CCSVI stands for Chronic Cerebro-Spinal Venous Insufficiency. The syndrome consists in venous anomalies, located especially in internal jugular veins (vena jugularis interna) and the azygos vein (vena azygos). Such changes are usually observed in patients with disseminated sclerosis.
At Medicover Hospital, patients with suspicion of pathology in veins transporting blood from the brain are offered comprehensive diagnostics and treatment.
We are offering two diagnostics packages:
CCSVI diagnostics package (IVUS) - new!
The intravenous examination using the IVUS apparatus is the most precise form of diagnostics and treatment of venous malformations.
It allows to precisely assess the abnormality of the structure and functioning of the vessel’s lumen and facilitates determination of the location, degree of narrowing and dynamics of development of the venous malformation.
The examination provides insight into the actual structure of vessel’s wall, which allows to assess its quality in addition to the quantitative assessment of the structures.
The method consists in the use of ultrasounds. Thin venous catheter is advanced through the femoral artery to the vessel intended for inspection. The advanced probe is both the emitter as well as receiver of reflected ultrasound waves, which after processing by a computer are visualised on the screen. The resulting images are analysed by experienced vascular surgeons and the relevant measurements assist in accurate determination of the condition of the vessel, its narrowings, detection of early stages of vascular pathologies and allow for a precise selection of a balloon to be used to broaden the vessel.
In the course of the procedure, all veins that impact draining of blood from the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord are being analysed. The detected anomalies can be corrected using intravenous angioplasty with the use of high-pressure balloons, whose diameter is determined using the IVUS apparatus.
Day 1:
- admission to the department of vascular surgery around 6 pm, medical consultation, laboratory tests
Day 2:
- Doppler ultrasound
- treatment procedure performed at the interventional radiology laboratory: IVUS phlebography to confirm the presumptive diagnosis and balloon angioplasty
Day 3:
- the patient is discharged after spending one night at the hospital under medical supervision, if the presence of early complications is excluded.
As a rule of thumb, IVUS examination is always performed if results of preliminary tests are inconclusive.
Application of the IVUS apparatus in diagnostics allows to:
- predict the potential vascular complications, which is significant for the selection of an invasive treatment technique
- predict the type of complications that may occur after transdermal balloon angioplasty
- assess the degree of broadening the lumen of the vessel
- detect untypical malformations, valve defects, fibrous septae, etc.
- determine the proper diameter of the balloon catheter
- assess the risk of restenosis,
- detect blood clots
CCSVI diagnostics package (standard)
Preliminary tests performed on patients are non-invasive and involve Doppler ultrasound with colour flow imaging and magnetic resonance imaging.
- All diagnostic and additional (lab) tests are performed at our diagnostic laboratories.
- All tests are carried out in accordance with the Stanford protocol.
- To ensure safety and comfort for our patients, the diagnostic and treatment package is offered in the form of in-house hospitalization at the Medicover vascular surgery ward.
The procedure consists in an incision of the vein in the groin local anaesthesia and is X-ray monitored. It does not require general anaesthesia. In the course of the procedure subject to assessment is the anatomy and functioning of the vein by injecting contrast through a venous catheter. As contrast is injected, the degree of narrowing is assessed on the basis of the information displayed on the screen. Narrowings of jugular veins that cause obstruction in drainage of blood from the brain may be broadened using special balloons whose inflation remedies obstruction of the blood vessels.
Following the procedure, patients must remain at least 6 hours under strict medical supervision.
Day 1:
- vascular surgery ward admission, preliminary consultation and Doppler ultrasound,
- magnetic resonance imaging,
- treatment qualification according to the test results.
Day 2:
- Treatment procedure performed at the interventional radiology laboratory: phlebography to confirm the presumptive diagnosis and balloon angioplasty,
- the patient is discharged after spending one night at the hospital under medical supervision, if the presence of early complications is excluded.
In the case of treatment disqualification (no pathology confirmed or pathology that does not require intravenous correction) the patient only pays for the diagnostic tests performed and the hospital stay.
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