Who is a Candidate for Adult Stem Cell Treatment?

Okyanos Heart Institute closely follows the research guidelines for the PRECISE and other trials that have demonstrated positive results from cardiac stem cell treatment. The adult stem cell treatment is performed on candidates who have been fully medically screened, and who have had interventions such as bypass surgery or stents and have heart damage.

• Okyanos Heart Institute provides cell therapy treatment to qualified patients who are able to travel and who have been thoroughly screened by our cardiology team and approved for treatment.
• Patients on oxygen or too weak to comfortably travel for adult stem cell treatment are not appropriate candidates at this time.
• Before acceptance, an echocardiogram and a nuclear scan such as SPECT is required to ensure the patient will potentially benefit from the cell therapy treatment.
• We accept referrals from physicians as well as inquiries from patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD).
• We welcome calls and questions from both physician and patient about who is a candidate for this procedure and how the cell therapy treatment is performed.

Quality of life can start to be impacted when patients experience symptoms associated with heart disease even after interventions such as bypass surgery and/or stents and for whom additional interventions are not an option. These symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in legs, ankles, feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Persistent cough or wheezing
• Swelling of abdomen
• Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
• Lack of appetite and nausea
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness

(Note: Some patients who have damage from a heart attack may display no symptoms.)

We are committed to tracking and following our patients’ progress post-treatment, in collaboration with the patient’s physician. We provide medical records to the patient and the physician for follow up at home after receiving adult stem cell treatment.