Advancing Coronary Artery Disease Treatment

Okyanos Heart Institute brings a new standard of care and a better quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac cell therapy.

Adult stem cell treatment for coronary artery disease advanced to a higher level with the announcement of the PRECISE Trial results at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA) in November 2010. Using stem cells harvested from a patient’s own body fat, the rigorous clinical trial demonstrated significant patient improvement in cardiac function and reduction of infarct (wound) size.

The cells used in the PRECISE trial are technically known as adipose (fat) derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) and are known to grow new blood vessels when placed directly into the heart muscle. Those vessels are believed to support better heart function and prevent further scarring of the heart. Improved heart function translates to a better quality of life.

In the summer of 2013, a first-of-its-kind center of excellence, the Okyanos Heart Institute, will begin treating qualified patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac stem cell therapy. Located in Freeport, Bahamas, Okyanos Heart Institute brings a new standard of care and a better quality of life to patients with chronic coronary artery disease. The Institute, built to U.S. surgical center standards, is led by Dr. Howard Walpole, a prominent U.S. educated interventional cardiologist. At Okyanos, the focus is on offering a highly personalized patient and family experience to facilitate maximum treatment, recovery and benefit.