CCSVI Liberation Procedure Information
About CCSVI
CCSVI stands for “Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency,” a condition where people have obstructed blood flow in the veins that drain the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
Research indicates that CCSVI is significantly correlated with multiple sclerosis. The term CCSVI was coined by Dr. Paolo Zamboni of the University of Ferrara, Italy, in 2008.
As a result of these venous abnormalities, the blood flow rate through the central nervous system back toward the heart may become slowed, and blood may reflux back toward the brain and spine.
When it comes to changing lives anymore, the smallest technology can create the greatest impact. Take medical Doppler ultrasound. For years Doppler technology has been used to screen a multitude of maladies resulting from malformed, diseased or damaged organs and vessels. Today though, it is at the forefront of an emerging procedure that is impacting the lives of MS patients and Arizona is a key player in this segment of health care.
Where to start
One Phoenix company, Arizona Doppler Specialists, is the only facility performing the diagnostic tests and Saguaro Surgical in Tucson one of only a few in the world performing the surgery called CCSVI liberation procedure. Dozens of patients travel to Phoenix every day from all over the world to have the diagnostic procedure done at Arizona Doppler. This represents a burgeoning bio-medical/bio-tech industry that is contributing to turning around Arizona’s economy.
About the procedure
Dr. Paolo Zamboni, an Italian doctor and former vascular surgeon, developed a new type of treatment/therapy for MS patients suffering from CCSVI called ‘The Liberation Therapy’. According to him (this doctor) MS is possibly not a chronic disease of the central nervous system, but a disease of the vascular system. Narrowed blood vessels cause unnourished blood full of toxins to back up in the brain and not drain from the central nervous system. Some believe that this combination of events causes the symptoms of MS. The liberation angioplasty treatment inserts a catheter with balloon into the patients vein, thereby opening the vessel so that the blood can drain properly.
Patients who could barely walk or perform basic functions controlled by the central nervous system are experiencing dramatic life-changing results.
Please call for a consultation or more information:
(520) 318-3004
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CCSVI Medical News and Stories Around the World
Matthew's One Month Update
Matthew a Canadian CCSVI patient, talks about his one-month update on how he’s doing post-liberation. Although we didn’t see Matthew ourselves, we do see many patients from Canada each week. His video stresses the importance for follow up care. We recommend that patients have a follow up doppler exam one month, six months and one year after surgery.
CCSVI Cause célèbre
Celebrity spokespersons for diseases and degenerative conditions can draw widespread recognition and sympathy. To date, no celebrity has come forward to support the global CCSVI community and the liberation procedure suggesting hope for millions of people suffering from multiple sclerosis. Certainly many famous people in history have lived with M.S. but how important do you think it is for a famous person to step forward to advance the cause and to put a “face,” on the movement that most people know and trust. It’s an interesting thought. What do you think?
Dr. Marian Simka from Poland discusses CCSVI
From time to time we want to share patient and health care professionals testimonials from around the world. Her Dr. Marian Simka talks about his observations regarding CCSVI and the liberation procedures.
An objective look at CCSVI
As many of you know, nearly every scientific advancement in history has met with some controversy. Some more than others. CCSVI is no exception. Despite overwhelming patient anecdotal evidence the procedure is consistently challenged in the mainstream medical community. To legitimize Dr. Zamboni’s hypothesis, several international studies are underway (they themselves subject to controversy as several of the researches have disclosed that they benefit financially from some of the largest drug companies).
So Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware) can relate as much to how news is consumed as to warnings about things we purchase. National Public Radio is one news source that can be considered unbiased and objective. Our friend the wheelchair kamikaze is used to put a face on the CCSVI story and here it is about one doctors challenge regarding recent study results indicating that doppler ultrasound has not detected the condition considered to lead to CCSVI. Robert Fox, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic, currently oversees one of the studies funded by an MS Society grant. He says part of the confusion comes from variations in how CCSVI is measured.
“That’s absolutely one of the potential problems in the previous studies: Are the techs who got negative results, did they just not know how to do the ultrasound in the way that Dr. Zamboni described doing the ultrasound? And that’s a very important issue,” Fox says.
At Arizona Doppler Specialists, we are trained in the specific procedure to look for CCSVI. What are your thoughts on the subject? Shouldn’t the methodology of these studies require those conducting them to have training specific to CCSVI? Shouldn’t any study be conducted by researchers who are not funded by any outside organization, including drug companies?
Listen to an audio of the story here or visit NPR at this link.
Using humor for a serious subject
Stacy, A new friend we met on Facebook is taking a unique and humorous approach to dealing with her condition. She has created a t-shirt called “got brain drain.” Restricted blood flow in Multiple Sclerosis patients is thought to be the leading cause for the condition CCSVI. She is donating a portion of the sales from the t-shirts to the CCSVI Alliance as well as raising money to help with her own aftercare. Humor in the face of a daunting health condition is both inspiring and uplifting.
Nigel's post liberation story
[re-printed with permission from his post on CCSVI Locator]
“This is my first post and I should have commented earlier but I have never done this kinda stuff before, so on Feb 16 it 3 months since I had my “Liberation Treatment” at the Rhode Island Vascular Institute. I went there not knowing if I had any stenosis at all but I have a sister with MS (2 years younger) and she was able to get a MRV and hers showed narrowing. So my wife and I went to Rhode Island I got tested and sure enough I had blockages in all 3 areas (left and right jugulars and the azygos) So the next morning they went ahead with the procedure (I have to add I have been in a wheelchair for approx 5 years been on copaxone for 10 years and now tysabri for the past 3 years) so during the procedure I could feel the tingling and knubness in my hands and feet just stop right on the operating table which I thought maybe it’s the drugs they gave me to calm you down or something but I could really feel a sensation when the blood srarted to flow out left jugular. The Doctors and staff are so great and helpfull there. I went there in my wheelchair with my guide dog Orca went back to our hotel and was able to go out for dinner that evening. The procedure was that simple and easy and the cost $6500.00 USFunds (which was at par at the time) $500.00USFunds for 1month of Plaxal(blood thinner which my insurance company reimpursed) and that was the cost other than gas, food and hotel which can all be written off on income tax.
The next day went back to clinic (was able to walk in with cane) for a final doppler test and all 3 areas blood was flowing great. Being home now I do not use my stair glide in my house anymore, I am going on short walks around the block and stuff like that, my balance has improved 100% , my cognitive skills which was a big problem too have also improved as I can read a book know remember fully. The only thing I can’t do yet is do even a light jog but its only been 3 months so that’s my new goal. I would also like to add that even when I was in the wheelchair I went to my gym 3-4 days a week and tried to work all my muscles and I truly believe thats why after the surgery I might have had such a quick response. I haven’t told my neurologist because he told me point-blank the subject will be gone and buried in a year (that was 6 month ago)and he is the head at St. Michael’s.”
Nigel’s story is inspirational and we thank him for sharing it with us. He is part of a growing CCSVI community who share their stories with the world in hopes of making a difference.
Visualizing the liberation procedure for CCSVI
Dr. Paolo Zamboni coined the term CCSVI to describe the compromise blood flow in the brain, but do many understand exactly how the procedure works? This simple YouTube video posted by Dr. Zamboni, describes the blood flow of patient without multiple sclerosis (MS) and patient with the malady.
In patients without MS, the blood flows from the brain, to the spinal chord to the heart without changing direction. The doppler machine detects this, showing up as blue in the video. Untreated MS patients are the opposite. Blood flows towards the brain rather than towards the heart. In the video, the doppler detects this as red spots showing on the monitor. The effects of MS may be altered when a balloon is inserted into the vein, restoring normal blood flow, but first a test must be performed.
Arizona Doppler offers CCSVI screening in Phoenix and Tucson. Our technologists are trained in the Zamboni protocol and have extensive experience in providing vascular ultrasounds. If our testing shows a venous abnormality, AZ Doppler will refer the patient to a facility in Tucson that offers treatment.
Video Courtesy of Dr. Paolo Zamboni: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_RXs5dPh6E
200 countries, 200 years, 4 minutes of world health
In this video the story of world health is told by Swedish academic superstar Hans Rosling. Here statistics come to life when he fantastically illustrates global health graphically as it is tied to development over the last 200 years.
As we move towards a world economy and global health converges with the resources of developing countries, advances in health like the CCSVI liberation procedure could mean nearly everyone in the world will have access to technologies that increase life expectancy and produce meaningful contributions by individuals who may have otherwise not survived. It’s a privilege to be on this kind of journey, first-hand.
CCSVI Screening in Action
Here, Nicole Feigenbutz demonstrates a CCSVI screening. This footage was taken for use as b-roll for news coverage and it shows the method used to look for the condition.
We screen patients from all over the world for candidacy for the liberation procedure. Interesting enough, the majority of our patients come to us from Canada.
Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency is theoretically the cause of Multiple Sclerosis and its associated symptoms.
The power of video
As we’ve been growing our practice and our online presence, we are of course thinking of how we can best communicate the power of the CCSVI liberation procedure. We realized that we need more photos and we really need patient testimonials. If you are reading this and you are a patient or the loved one of a patient, it’s important to document your journey. Not just so that we can put it up on our website but because video documenting your journey can be a powerful and moving experience. We’ve watched videos of people just like you from around the world that have found us sitting at our computers weeping with the joy of watching hope transform into reality.
Serving the Tucson community for more the 20 years, the staff and surgical team at Saguaro Surgical, PC are dedicated to provide you the best possible care.