How Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy Works

Okyanos Heart Institute is the leader in providing cardiac cell therapy treatment using a European Union approved cell processing device to treat chronic coronary artery diseaseHeart disease caused by plaque having built up in the arteries. patients and congestive heart failureA condition in which the heart cannot pump all the blood returning to it, leading to a backup of blood in the vessels and an accumulation of fluid in the body’s tissues, including the lungs..

The Okyanos procedure is performed in a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab by a prestigious U.S. licensed chief cardiologist, Dr. Howard Walpole. It is the first cardiac cell therapy procedure for heart failure and disease available to patients outside of clinical trials where cells are infused directly into the damaged part of the heart via catheter. This procedure allows for better targeting of the cells to repair damaged heart tissue.

A Minimally-Invasive Procedure That Requires Only Moderate Sedation with a Local Anesthetic

The procedure involves three steps.

1. Approximately 1 cup of adipose (fat) tissueThe medical term for body fat. It is the richest source of adult stem cells as yet discovered. is removed from each patient by liposuction.
2. Viable adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) are extracted from the patient’s fat tissue and concentrated at the point-of-care. This takes approximately one hour.
3. Immediately thereafter, a cardiologist performs a catheterization to guide the delivery of cells into the ischemic (low blood flow) regions of the heart.

After the procedure is completed, the patient is expected to rest for several hours in a private patient suite. Each suite is designed to comfortably permit up to three family members to join the patient.

Post-Operative Recovery After Cell Therapy Treatment

The procedure is minimally-invasive and done on an outpatient basis. After a 4 to 6 hour observation period, the patient is expected to rest comfortably with family. The patient does not have a lengthy and painful rehabilitation process as with open heart surgery.

Follow-up Care After Cell Therapy Treatment

After the procedure, the patient will be monitored to let the catheter and liposuction incision sites heal. Okyanos Heart Institute will make arrangements for a physician to follow up at home after your return and to monitor your progress over the next few months after your cell therapy treatment.

Other important factors that will contribute to the therapeutic benefits of cardiac cell therapy treatment are diet, exercise and one’s personal well-being. Dr. Walpole, our Chief Medical Officer, will provide an after-care plan and lead the follow-up with individual patients.