Karl Hoffman with his surgeon, John Phair, MD
For more than 45 years, Karl Hoffman has dedicated his life to education.
A lifelong New Yorker who was raised in the Bronx and now calls Queens home, he has spent decades shaping young minds—from serving as a science department chair at a local high school to his current role teaching criminology at St. John’s University in Queens. At 77 years old, he’s still doing what he loves most: inspiring students in the classroom.
But earlier this year, while preparing for a knee replacement surgery to relieve years of debilitating arthritis pain, he learned that another, far more serious health issue demanded immediate attention.
He had no symptoms, and so he had no idea that one of the arteries supplying blood to his brain was nearly blocked.
“I felt perfectly fine,” he says. “I was focused on getting my knee replaced so I could get back to walking comfortably again. I never imagined they would find something that could have caused a stroke.”
As part of the routine pre-operative evaluation before his orthopedic surgery with Edward C. Yang, MD, he underwent a vascular examination. The screening revealed a 90 percent blockage in his carotid artery—a potentially life-threatening condition that significantly increases the risk of stroke.
The blockage was caught before it caused a stroke, and the vascular surgery team at Mount Sinai Queens acted quickly. Within weeks, he underwent transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), a unique and minimally invasive procedure designed to restore blood flow to the brain while reducing the risk of stroke.
“One of the biggest challenges with carotid artery disease is that many patients have no symptoms until they experience a stroke,” says John Phair, MD, Associate Professor of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “The routine pre-operative evaluation gave us the opportunity to detect the blockage early and treat it before it became a life-threatening emergency. TCAR allowed us to provide a less invasive treatment with a quicker recovery, helping him safely return to the life he enjoys.”
Mr. Hoffman underwent the procedure and was home the next day. Just one week later, he was back in the classroom.
“I couldn’t believe how quickly I recovered,” he says. “I was grateful to get back to my students and back to doing what I love.”
With the vascular procedure behind him, he went on to have his long-awaited knee replacement surgery. Once he recovers through physical therapy, he’s looking forward to returning to the activities arthritis had forced him to put on hold—from exploring museums and the New York Botanical Garden with his wife of 51 years to spending another semester in the classroom.
“Stories like Karl’s remind us why routine screenings are so important,” said Christopher Smolock, MD, Professor, Vascular Surgery and Radiology and Chief of Vascular Surgery, Mount Sinai Queens. “Advanced procedures like TCAR allow us to treat severe carotid artery disease before it leads to a stroke, and we’re proud to provide that level of specialized vascular care right here in Queens.”
For Mr. Hoffman, the surgical procedures mean he can focus on what comes next.
“You never know what a routine test might uncover,” he says. “I’m thankful the team found the blockage when they did. Because of them, I’m looking forward to getting back to my family, my students, and the life I love.”
At Mount Sinai Queens, patients have access to innovative vascular care close to home. From advanced diagnostic screenings to minimally invasive procedures like TCAR, our vascular surgery team is helping patients return to the lives they love with expert, compassionate care. To learn more or schedule a consultation with John Phair, MD, or Christopher Smolock, MD, contact Mount Sinai Queens Vascular Surgery at 718-808-7777 for Mount Sinai Doctors-Astoria and 718-520-6100 for Mount Sinai Doctors-Forest Hills.