This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

look, this is a very short notice thing. I did not invite a tenth of those who might be interested.

For the next ten days, i am looking for more doctors who are intersted or thinking about this subject. please do use your advocacy to share the word. I actually injoy your empowerment

Hi Dr. Sclafani,

Someone mentioned it would be a good idea if a less scary name for the cutting balloon could be found, and I have a suggestion:

The shaping balloon catheter.

Your thoughts?

~HP

You may like to know that the vascular surgeons in Belfast are organizing a debate on CCSVI and Dr Sclafani has accepted to come and take part in it: He will be confronted by sceptical neurologists.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Speakers: E. Mark Haacke, PhD, David Hubbard, MD, Sal Sclafani, MD, and Monte Harvill, MD
...
This is a presentation and fundraising event focused on the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) approach to treating multiple sclerosis, as recently discovered by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, from Ferrara, Italy.

Phase 1 of the study requires $500,000 – private philanthropy is required to provide the back bone of the necessary funding. We could wait for governments to respond, we could wait for others to provide the funding, we could wait for other countries to proceed – or we can donate today and start trials in the United States immediately.

The MRI Institute for Biomedical Research is at the forefront of this new research and has a team ready and waiting to start work in collaboration with imaging sites in the US. However, they do not have the funding. We need to get the research started NOW which is why we are asking you to attend this information seminar where you will meet and talk with doctors and scientists who will focus on this new approach and who will be carrying out the research.

Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Ticket price is $100 per person or can also make a donation in any amount, of which 100% will go directly to this research project and will be treated as a charitable donation for tax purposes.

This is a grass roots attempt to fund the crucial early stages of study.

Please pass this along to anyone within your network who is interested and can help. If you cannot attend please consider making a donation at http://mrimaging.com/donate.html

Sincerely,
Rachel D. Martis-Laze

After DrS's reply I had to double-check the difference between a valvulotome and a cutting balloon, here are the images I found:

valvulotome (looks like a tiny claw, for cutting through valves):
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/images/photos/0909_vein.jpg

cutting balloon (I thought this was helpful, it shows what a tiny area is scored, just five to seven cell layers, compared to the thickness of the whole vein):
http://www.kup.at/kup/images/browser/7169.jpg

and an ivus (it looks like a ball point pen):
http://www.dicardiology.net/files/cross_01_us_large.jpg

Hi Dr. Sclafani,

Someone mentioned it would be a good idea if a less scary name for the cutting balloon could be found, and I have a suggestion:

The shaping balloon catheter.

~HP

Dr. Scalfani:

Just how common in use is an ivus? It would seem to be a great way to examine a stenosis literally from the inside out. I suspect that my bilateral IJV stenosis were caused an by injury; if that is true, could an IR observe internal scar tissue with an ivus? Can a visual recording be made using an ivus?

Donnchadh

Doctor; a quick question if I may:

Up to where is it safe/necessary to balloon (or stent) veins? I have seen a probe catheter up to the transverse sinus; but is it usual?

Thanks

Hi Dr Sclafani,

Thank you very much for looking at my images before, i appreciate it.

After you disagreed with the Dr who said i have No CCSVI,
I have been in contact with a different interventional radiologist who said he can do balloon angioplasty,

i said i had a veno last month, but he said i must have a venogram a day before the angio
He said "i have to exactly plan my catheter movement"

i have sent him my images/video, so i cant see the importance of another venography.

i can only put it down to getting more money from me,
is it valid to have another veno, one month after the first one?

what can i say to him to prevent me having another Veno unnecessarily?

thank you

You MUST have one done right before the procedure. Stuff moves. Why do you think the doctor said what he said about planning ? You don't want to use an old outdated map to get directions to drive across the country !