Heart Disease Community

Hi Charissa:

"His doctors are saying no more stents. I am just wondering what is the next procedure for him at this time?"

In general-only here, and beyond drug-therapy, if/when common procedures, first time or re-do, such as angioplasty, with or without stents, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgey are not deemed feasible, as applicable to the patient, there may/can be other options that includes non-invasive EECP, laser-based TMR or PMR/PMC, and gene therapy/transfer.

FDA approved non-invasive Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) treatments.

Are You a Candidate for EECP Therapy?

http://www.vasomedical.com/patients.php

Surgical-based transmyocardial revascularization (TMR, FDA approved) and catheter-based percutaneous myocardial revascularization or channeling (PMR/PMC, FDA approval still pending), laser therapy.

Holmium:YAG laser

http://www.cardiogenesis.com

Patient education site

http://www.heartofnewlife.com

CO2 Heart Laser

http://www.plcmed.com/Products-For-Patients.asp

Growing your own so-called "bio-bypass" (collateral vessels) around blockages in the heart, and in the legs

It's known as gene therapy/gene transfer, which has been in experimental phases for quite some time now.
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As reported, over the last 20 years, gene therapy has moved from pre-clinical animal investigations (animal models) to human clinical studies for many diseases ranging from single gene disorders, to much more complex, multi-factorial, multi-conditional diseases such as dreaded cancer and cardiovascular disorders.

Readers Digest Online - February 2008

An experimental treatment is giving desperately ill heart patients a new lease on life.

A process called angiogenesis. The experimental procedure had shown great promise in two German studies, and the FDA had approved the launch of the first American clinical trial.

The technique involves injecting the heart with a protein called fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1).

"The protein is like a seed that causes new vessels to sprout, creating a network of capillaries and small arteries."

FGF-1 occurs naturally in the body.

http://www.readersdigest.com.au/heart-hope

Best of luck to your uncle and you down the road of life.

Take care,

CardioStar*

WebMD member (since 8/99)



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Be well-informed

Coronary artery anatomy

Starting with the LAD, the most critical, next to the ultra-critical LM.

http://www.heartsite.com/html/lad.html

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Good to know, for the primary and secondary prevention of heart attack and brain attack.

Epidemiologic studies have revealed risk factors (encompasses some new, novel, or emerging) for atherosclerosis, which includes age, gender, genetics (gene deletion, malfunction or mutation), diabetes, smoking (includes secondhand and thirdhand), inactivity, obesity, hypertension, high LDL, small, dense LDL, RLP (remnant lipoprotein), high Lp(a), high ApoB, high Lp-PLA2, high triglycerides, HDL2b, LOW HDL (less than 40 mg/dL, an HDL level of 60/65 mg/dL or more is considered protective against coronary artery disease, now questionable, according to recent studies), high homocysteine (now questionable), and high C-reactive protein (CRP/hs-CRP)


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The hospital/medical center you choose can make a difference...a critical difference. Choose wisely!

Credentials, Experience, Research

U.S. News & World Report

Best Hospitals: Heart & Heart Surgery

http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/heart-and-heart-surgery


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Quote!

"Be a questioning patient. TALK to your DOCTOR and ASK QUESTIONS. Studies show that patients who ask the most questions, and are most assertive, get the best results. Be vigilant and speak up!"

- Charles Inlander, People's Medical Society

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