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Pacific Interventionalists started doing CCSVI treatments
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:55 am
by Denon
Hi everyone,
Just saw in my google alerts that Pacific Interventionalists seems to be doing CCSVI treatments.
http://www.pacificinterventional.com/about_ccsvi.html
Never heard of them before, but just wanted to pass it on to everyone.
Denon
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:17 am
by Rokkit
I like their focus on symptoms directly attributable to venous obstruction. That's a good approach. I feel like that's more or less the direction Dr. Dake was heading until the neurologists swooped in and saved us.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:20 am
by sbr487
Rokkit wrote:
swooped in and saved us.
I think they do deserve nobel
piece prize for that.
Dr. Khan, Dr. Freedman, Dr. Miller should share this award ...
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:22 am
by Rokkit
Just noticed this in their section on CCSVI procedures: "Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) for complete venous evaluation"
I believe Dr. Sclafani is the father of this technique applied to CCSVI. It's very encouraging to see new knowledge spreading so quickly. I was close to giving up hope of that happening any time soon.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:40 am
by val57gal
Dr. Arata (who did my procedures) is part of this group. He's very enthusiastic and just came back from the symposium.
He's also very knowledgeable about May-Thurner, which may be wrapped into all this somehow (it is for me).
BTW, he's been using IVUS for years--it's standard IR stuff, not a Sclafani thing.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:59 am
by Rokkit
val57gal wrote:He's also very knowledgeable about May-Thurner, which may be wrapped into all this somehow (it is for me).
What kind of MS do you have?
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:08 am
by val57gal
Rokkit,
I have PPMS diagnosed 2001.
Dr Arata did a venogram in June, ballooned both IJVs, but couldn't get to the my kinked azygous. (He went in from right side). I had no noticeable changes in MS or other symptoms.
Because of my swollen ankles, we then did a pelvic MRV which found possible MT and justified a second venogram. Next week, he's going in from the left, rechecking the IJVs, approaching the azygous with what he learned at the symposium, and probably stenting the iliac for MT. I'll know more after Thursday.
V
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:36 am
by Cece
val57gal wrote:Dr. Arata (who did my procedures) is part of this group. He's very enthusiastic and just came back from the symposium.
He's also very knowledgeable about May-Thurner, which may be wrapped into all this somehow (it is for me).
BTW, he's been using IVUS for years--it's standard IR stuff, not a Sclafani thing.
Does Dr. Arata use IVUS for looking at CCSVI? I was just asking this over in drsclafani's thread, if there were any other docs who did!
I think IVUS has been used mostly by cardiologists, that it's relatively new to being used by IRs. And the use of it in CCSVI treatment is completely new, since CCSVI treatment itself is completely new.
I don't know if I believe the idea that May Thurner is as rare among MSers as it is among the normal population...we are seeing a lot of it! Best of luck with your next procedure. I wished you this before on another thread, I think.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:56 am
by Rokkit
val57gal wrote:Because of my swollen ankles, we then did a pelvic MRV which found possible MT and justified a second venogram. Next week, he's going in from the left, rechecking the IJVs, approaching the azygous with what he learned at the symposium, and probably stenting the iliac for MT. I'll know more after Thursday.
Sounds like a great plan. Very interesting. Please report back as soon as you can, and good luck!
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:00 am
by cheerleader
Great news for southern California...
Best of luck to you, Val. Keep us posted---
cheer
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:45 pm
by CureIous
Rokkit wrote:I like their focus on symptoms directly attributable to venous obstruction. That's a good approach. I feel like that's more or less the direction Dr. Dake was heading until the neurologists swooped in and saved us.
And he used IVUS on my follow up treatment in April. Thank God the neuros were out to lunch that day and weren't able to rescue me. I think the "only treating venous abnormalities" approach is great. Ew and local too. Wonder how much pressure the U's will feel down here to get at least some study going. Excellent news!
M.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:19 pm
by CureIous
Very nice page for them too. I like the "angioplasty and/or stenting" part. Would that more could approach with that attitude instead of all or nothing as if one approach has some lock on this...
And to think of how many MS'ers in So Cal haven't even heard of this yet... Let alone the US.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:05 pm
by Cece
Currently the relationship between Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and CCSVI is still being defined and is debated among leading MS experts. However, many of the symptoms of central venous occlusion and stenosis seen in CCSVI are well understood and have been treated for many years. Central venous occlusion and stenosis may cause a variety of symptoms including swelling of the head, face, or neck, skin color changes within the head, face, or neck, swelling, heaviness, and throbbing of the arms, and occasionally light headedness.
It is not uncommon that these symptoms are disregarded by patients or go unrecognized by medical professionals. In fact, many patients who deny these symptoms on initial presentation will recognize them after being questioned about them or will report the symptoms improve after treatment. Although the short and long term outcomes of patients with Multiple Sclerosis who are treated for CCSVI is not clearly established, it has been clearly shown that symptoms related to venous stenosIs improve with central venous angioplasty and/or stenting.
While central venous therapies for CCSVI may improve MS symptoms, the Physicians at Pacific Interventionalists encourage patients to understand that these benefits have not been clearly defined. Some patients may experience relief of their MS symptoms. However, some patients may have only a transient relief or no relief of their MS symptoms.
Patients with CCSVI suffering from the symptoms described above may benefit from the well established use of angioplasty and/or stenting to treat their narrowed veins. Thus, at Pacific Interventionalists, we encourage patients with MS to seek evaluation of symptoms which may be attributable to venous blockage (CCSVI).
Since the symptoms of venous blockage have been shown to improve with treatment, they are typically covered by insurance carriers. Our dedicated Staff and Physicians help coordinate the initial MRI of the head and neck veins, and will schedule you for a consultation and possible treatment by one of our Interventional Specialists.
I thought this was all quite well explained.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:12 pm
by Rokkit
Cece wrote:I thought this was all quite well explained.
I agree. Very well done.
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:33 pm
by Katie41
I was reticent to post Dr. Arata's name and info, but now that he's "out", yes, he was the dr who did my procedure in Costa Mesa, CA. He and his staff were terrific. More info is on "Katie41 in Poland", last post on page 3 of thread, and "May-Thurner and MS/check it out", first post on page 1 of thread.
He was trained by Dr. Haacke, is in contact with Dr. Dake, and attended the NY symposium this past Monday. He is very experienced in the use of stents and angioplasty, especially in veins.
Two weeks post-procedure, my left leg symptoms are gone, my trunk is much stronger, and I can walk around the house without crutches (I'm close to venturing outside without them). This, in spite of the fact that I had a sprained knee and was in a brace when I went in for the procedure. After the procedure, I walked out without the brace and haven't needed it since.
Great find, Val! Thanks so much!!
Katie