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Bookmark and Share New leading-edge treatments for the nation's No. 1 killer
By Robert Iwaoka, MD, FACC, FSCAI, medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and cardiovascular research, Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute

Did you know heart disease is the number one killer of Americans? In the United States alone, one out of every four deaths results from this disease. Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute offers a variety of treatment options for those suffering from heart disease and, through clinical research trials, we are proud to be the first system in Charlotte to provide two new leading-edge treatments to our patients.

The first new treatment is an absorbable stent that is inserted into a patient’s severely blocked, diseased artery to hold it open. This technology is unique because unlike normal stents, which are permanent and can keep an artery from dilating and constricting in the treated area, the new stent is absorbed by the body after two years and thus allows the artery to resume its natural function. The stent holds plaque and debris against the vessel wall while at the same time delivering an anti-scarring drug that keeps scar tissue from forming in the vessel and hindering blood flow. By the time the stent dissolves into water and carbon dioxide, which is absorbed by the body, the diseased vessel will have healed itself.

Man with heart problemsThe second new treatment is called PRESERVE AMI and uses a patient’s stem cells to restore heart muscle that was damaged from a heart attack. This treatment is available to patients who recently suffered a heart attack and successfully received a stent. An oncologist performs a bone marrow harvest on the patient and, through a purification method, a specific type of stem cell is isolated. The isolated stem cells are then injected back into the patient’s heart. After only a few minutes, the cells take root in the damaged muscle, growing new microscopic blood vessels that will aid in the repair of the damaged muscle. The success of the procedure is determined by the rate of improvement in the heart muscle after six months.

Novant Health is committed to using the latest healthcare and technology advances to bring you the newest, most innovative treatments so you can focus on getting better and staying healthy.

For more information on the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute, please visit NovantHealth.org/heart. Find out if you are at risk for heart disease with a $25 screening. Call 704-384-CARE (2273) to schedule your appointment today.