VesCell™

What is VesCell™?

VesCell™ is autologous adult stem cell therapy.  This means we use stem cells taken from your own blood so your body will not reject them. Adult stem cells are cells found in your body that can help repair dying cells and regenerate damaged organs and tissues. VesCell™ uses a special process that differentiates your cells so that they can build additional blood flow to and through your heart by creating new blood vessels and new heart muscle.

The VesCell™ adult stem cell therapy process is very simple. The patient has about 250cc. of blood drawn from their arm – less than a normal blood donation. This is sent to our lab, where the stem cells in the blood are isolated and then multiplied using TheraVitae’s patented process. VesCell™ is then either injected or implanted back into the failing heart or arteries.

There are two different kinds of stem cell therapy for heart disease:

A: Catheter implantation --- very similar to a balloon angioplasty, a catheter is used to implant your own stem cells into previously-defined coronary arteries. These cells then create new blood vessels and capillaries that feed the heart more and more blood as the weeks go by.

B: Direct injection into the heart muscle with hypodermic needle --- mini surgery rather than open heart surgery. A small incision is made on the left side of the chest giving the surgeon access to the heart muscle. The surgeon then proceeds to make approximately 30 injections directly into the heart muscle. This usually results in reduced heart size and stronger pumping activity.

Generally speaking, when ischemia (blockage, angina) is the main problem, the choice will be (A) above. Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy or severe Congestive Heart Failure cases with moderate ischemia will, generally, be chosen for (B) above. Final decisions are made ONLY by the treating doctors, although those patients with cardiologists who are interested can have them participate in the diagnosis/decision process.

Find out if you are a candidate for one of these treatments (click here). There is no cost or obligation to find out if VesCell™ can help you.

Email any (or all) of our patient volunteers who have received VesCell™ therapy and ask them whatever you wish to know about their experience. Be sure to include your phone number; they may wish to call you back.