First Minimally Invasive Stem Cell Implantation in the World for Heart Failure
Over a million patients around the world suffer from heart failure. Minimally invasive stem cell therapy was performed in a patient with end stage heart failure. This is the first patient in the world to have the procedure and is doing well at home two weeks after the operation
ARGENTINA (PRWEB) March 22, 2004 -- A 74 year old engineer with end stage
heart failure was treated with stem cell therapy using a very small camera and
instruments at the Asociacion Espanola Primera de Socorros Mutuos by a team of
multi-national surgeons in Uruguay two weeks ago.
The patient has had
severe heart failure for the past 10 years and had minimal improvement with the
best medical management. He was continuously short of breath while performing
his daily routine.
The stem cell therapy involves taking the patient’s
own bone marrow and purifying it to obtain the type of stem cells which will
hopefully give rise to new blood vessels and muscle so the heart can get more
oxygen and function better.
“This patient is the first in the world to
receive a minimally invasive direct surgical implantation of stems cells into
his heart. We have been performing stem cell therapy for heart failure for over
one year with excellent early results. Our first patient, who received this
therapy in Argentina, had New York Heart Association Class IV heart failure
(which is the worst). He was short breath while sitting in place. After his
therapy, he currently has no symptoms of heart failure after one year. We
continue to follow him and our forty other patients who are part of out
multi-national stem trial for heart failure,” Dr. Amit N. Patel MD MS,
University of Pittsburgh & Baylor University Medical Center, USA, who
devised the procedure with Dr. Benetti.
“Stem cell therapy for heart
failure has the potential to help a lot of people around the world. If used
early, stem cell therapy may decrease the need for heart transplantation.” Dr
Federico Benetti MD– President of Benetti Foundation, Argentina.
Heart
Failure affects over a million people around the world each year. There are few
successful treatment options for these patients.
Early results of
surgical stem cell therapy for heart failure will be presented by Dr. Patel on
April 25, 2004 at annual meeting of the American Association of Thoracic
Surgery
The Benetti Foundation based in Argentina is dedicated to the
education and research in the treatment of heart disease around the world.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/3/prweb112934.htm