For inquiries related specifically to The Liberation Procedure for CCSVI, please email us at: thinkccsvi@gmail.com

or call us at 877-VAC-4USA (use prompt #6). 

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a devastating disease that has severe effects on people from all walks of life, most often striking young adults in their prime. The causes of MS are not well understood, and there are probably a number of different factors that have to be present for the disease to develop. The possibility that abnormalities of venous drainage of the brain and spinal cord are a contributing factor to MS has been raised several times over the last 80-100 years, but has usually been discounted

There has been much attention and research aimed at identifying the possible connection between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS.   CCSVI is a syndrome in which the flow of blood in the veins draining the central nervous system (CNS) are compromised, creating difficulty in getting the blood in the brain & spine back to the heart.  Some researchers theorize that this particular condition possibly hastens the development of MS or may be a factor leading to the worsening of MS symptoms.

Recent work by Dr. Zamboni et al in Italy has revived the concept that there is a vascular component to the MS disease process. Their studies show that a large proportion of patients with MS have abnormalities of the veins draining the head and neck, causing abnormal flow patterns and presumably causing abnormal vein pressures in the brain. Patients without MS, whether healthy volunteers or those with other neurological diseases, do not seem to have these abnormalities of the veins.

While this is not entirely defined, it should be noted that many of the symptoms of CCSVI have been successfully treated for years.  These symptoms may include 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.  The specialized team at Vascular Access Centers will help you to determine if CCSVI treatment for MS may be the right decision for you. Upon consultation, including the review of the patient's medical history and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies, the patient and their family will be informed of potential treatment options and realistic expectations. Clinical outcomes vary from patient to patient but those that respond to endo-vascular therapy can have amazing relief of symptoms and reversal of neurological deficits. Patients have responses ranging from relief of their MS symptoms entirely, temporary relief of their MS symptoms, or no relief of their MS symptoms at all.

CCSVI Treatment
The major veins that are addressed in the CCSVI procedure are the left and right jugular veins that drain the de-oxygenated blood from the brain, and the azygos vein that drains the de-oxygenated blood from the spinal area.  Additionally, the renal, iliac, inferior vena cava, and superior vena cava veins are viewed and treated if necessary.

Treatment of this particular syndrome most typically involves placing a small "tubing," which is introduced through the Femoral Vein, accessed through a band-aid-sized incision in the groin area.  The access site is cleaned and prepared using a cleansing wash that is usually a little "chilly" when applied.  The groin area is numbed with an injection of numbing medicine, much like that used in the dentist's office.  Once the numbing has taken place, a tube called a sheath is put in the vein.   From this location, small catheters wires are guided through the opening all the way up into the neck and chest veins.  Your physician will  be able to navigate using fluroscopy, or x-ray guidance. A visual picture is achieved by injecting dye into the veins.  This will help identify where there may be narrowing or blockage in your veins.

Once the location of the blockage is identified, a small balloon can be placed across the narrowing and inflated. This procedure, called Angioplasty,  will help to open up the vein and restore its size, and reestablish normal blood flow.  In some instances, the balloon itself doesn't quite restore the vein's size.  This can be easily rectified by the introduction of a small stent.  A stent may preserve long-term success of the treated area.

Patients receive a light sedation which allows you to rest comfortably during the procedure, but does not inhibit you from being able to follow directions and answer questions asked by the doctor and staff.  Patients spend anywhere from 45 minutes up to two hours on the operating table, depending on the complexity of the procedure and ease of access to the obstructed veins.  In the event that your procedure runs longer, a member of the team will communicate with the waiting family members to give them an update.

At the end of the procedure, the groin sheath is removed and pressure is held on the site until hemostasis is achieved and there is no bleeding at the puncture site.  A bio-occlusive dressing is applied, the surgical drapes and equipment are removed from the area, and the patient is returned to the recovery area.

Follow Up
We are currently participating in the IRB-approved Hubbard Registry and our follow-up will be reflective of this protocol.  We will make information available to you to bring back to your primary physician, as we encourage communication with the rest of your care team. 

Aftercare
As we continue to strive to offer our CCSVI patients the best continuum of care, we would like to share our newest innovation.  This is an opportunity for our post-procedure CCSVI patients to include an additional option of wellness care to their daily regime.  

Vascular Access Centers has joined in a collaborative venture with a Doctor of Naturopathy, Dr. Kaylee McDonald of the Rainier Natural Health Center in Washington.  Read more about Kaylee.

The CCSVI physicians at Vascular Access Centers have made arrangements to have a month's supply of the basic supplements suggested by Dr. McDonald sent to you at no cost to you.  This is merely an optional opportunity for you to take advantage of the supplemental vitamin regimen should you chose to do so.  Dr. McDonald's package will contain 3 basic supplements, an information sheet on each supplement, directions on how the supplement should be taken, and information on how to contact her for further information or to set uo an appointment or phone consultation.

We are excited about this new program ad hope that you will find your experience with Dr. McDonald beneficial to your continued goal of good health.  We at Vascular Access Centers continue to wish you well and will continue the endeavor to help our patients' in striving toward a better quality of life.

Need Some Additional Help To Guide Your Decision Process?
Vascular Access Centers is pleased to have partnered with Kate Fitzgerald of Medical Patient Advocates.  Kate uses a personalized intake system, which allows VAC to partner with each patient and his or her designated decision making family members regarding planned vascular or CCSVI treatment procedures.

Through this partnership, she will develop an open communication within the family structure to ensure that the patient’s perceptions, beliefs, hopeful outcomes and unplanned outcomes are discussed, understood by the patient’s family and accepted as the total family group's plan of action. 

Vascular Access Centers is proud to announce that we’ve received approval from the IRB to participate in the Hubbard registry.  This is a very exciting time for VAC as we validate our participation in the testing, treatment and data collection related to CCSVI (Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency).  Participating in a registry helps ensure that patients receive consistent data collection and follow up post treatment.
 
Further, participating in this registry will help to advance the CCSVI cause for others, allowing researchers to better understand and improve CCSVI technologies, treatment, and protocols.

The following physicians have been named as Principal Investigators for VAC: