CCSVI Debate on Alberta Primetime - Simka's Response
Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 6:21PM Last week, Alberta Prime Time had a debate between Alberta Neurologist Brad Stewart and False Creek Surgical Center's Clinic Director, Mark Godley.
Dr. Marian Simka, who has treated around 250 patients for CCSVI in his clinic in Poland, has responded to this debate as follows:
"Dr. Stewart emphasized that published results from Italy (Zamboni's initial study) show that many patients do not improve after the surgery. These are real facts. But in going into the details of this article we will find that early stage patients (relapsing remitting), in general, improve. Progressive patients stabilize (that is not bad, but not as good as an improvement). The issue of chronic fatigue was not discussed, yet - it is perhaps not necessary to point how important this problem is for the patients. Anyway, knowing that the earlier that venous obstacles are removed, the better the result, an approach of "just wait for more evidence, unless there is no option for you" makes no sense. On the contrary, the treatments should be performed immediately after the first symptoms appear.
And now I am going to Dr. Godley's statement. In short, "Forget MS, is is vascular problem. MS should be managed by neurologists, while narrowing of blood vessels belong to vascular surgeons". You know, being a surgeon, I would never discuss a doseage of neurologic drugs, for example. So, why are the neurologists discussing which type of surgery should or should not be performed? Have they ever held a lancet?
The whole discussion about stent migration is ridiculous. All are saying: "Don't perform stenting because of the risk of migration". Nobody is discusing: "How to perform the procedure to avoid this complication". In Poland, we have spent hours discussing this issue. And it is only a technical problem that CAN be solved and HAS been solved. It is the problem of proper preop diagnostics, proper intraop tactics and proper choice of the stent. The stent should be tailored to the vein. And such a stent CANNOT migrate. And if you cannot tailor the stent, or stenting is just not necessary - you simply perform ballooning. But Zamboni's statistics show that in 50% of the patients ballooning is not enough. Consequently, either you will require repetitive balloon angioplasty (most likely not very successful), or you will have progression of MS. Or - you should use stent. (In Latin: Aut, aut, tertium non datur)
What about safety. In our department we have already performed ~250 procedures, in over 100 patients we have applied stents. Serious complications: ZERO. Yet, in some patients, anticipating potential risks, only balloon angioplasty was done.
Another problem. Many doctors say: "We should establish the actual link between MS and CCSVI, and having these data we can perform treatments". Is such an approach correct? No !
Imagine, after some 3-5 years we have those data. They will be, most likely (I am nearly sure, since I already have the results), somewhere in between Zamboni's and Zivadinov's findings: ~90% MS patients and ~10-20% healthy people will have CCSVI. Another association, like EB virus, Actually, no argument for surgery.
And now forget MS. You have compromised blood flow in the most important organ of human's body (tens of articles on that, only an explanation was missing). This disturbed blood flow is manifested by many symptoms, not even mentioned in the criteria for MS, like: fatigue, "brainfog", headaches, etc. It has been already demonstrated in Zamboni's study that these symptoms dramatically improve after restoring the proper blood flow (anyway, it seems logical, but if anyone were asking for data - here they are). Unblocking obstructed veins is rather a simple procedure and a safe procedure (much safer than leaving those "diabolic" strictures). The real problem actually is: how to perform preop diagnosis (Zamboni's protocol is very far from ideal). What about other test (we are very proud of our MRV protocol (some images are at: ccsvimri.blogspot.com). Which endovascular equipment should be used (a very technical problem, but can be solved). What about postop medication (we know that oral anticoagulants are not a good option, but what about other drugs?). Those are real topic for clinical trials.
In Poland we say: Dogs are barking, but they will not stop the caravan."
Colleen O'Shea
Dr. Marian Simka has replied to some of the comments as follows:
The comment that reads: THANK YOU Colleen, finally a vascular Dr has spoken...MS is not the problem, vascular anomalies are...this is what we stand on when approaching our fight for testing/txment. we know our next step!!!! That's exactly what must be done - to change the context of CCSVI. As long as it is within (a) neurologic context, it will struggle. (But) not within a vascular context. Actually, at this point it is rather semantics than medicine that will decide.
To the comment: when is says "But in going into the details of this article we will find that early stage patients (relapsing remitting), in general, improve." does that mean that if you are stable with remitting relapsing ms but have had it for 30 years, that one should expect less improvement than someone only diagnosed 3 or 4 years ago? I meant the degree of disability. There are some progressive MS patients with rather short history and, on the contrary, RR patients with long history (interestingly, the first (group) are usually found (with) complete occlusions, while the latter (have) mild abnormalitiesof the valves); most likely, after some time neurodegeneration becomes the prevailing pathologic process and this cannot be reversed neither by immunomodulating drug, nor by "liberation". Therefore, most of the patients have very limited time to wait for the results from detailed trials; I think we can spoil good scientific data for the price of less wheelchaired people, can't we?
Colleen O'Shea
Sorry, everyone, but I can't find where this question to Dr. Marian Simka was posted. I looked through TIMS and most of the facebook sites, but came up empty handed.
In any event, here is the question, and Dr. Simka's response:
Does it matter if the stenosis is not a fixed stenosis but is adynamic one?
Simka: "It really matters, but the answer is not an easy one. In short, some functional (dynamic) stenoses/narrowings do not need stenting, some do. Usually balloon angiolpasty is not successful. If stents are needed, rather self-expandable ones should be used. But for safety reasons, the currently available stents cannot be used in all cases, so some patients remain with their stenoses not addressed (consequently, with no improvement). But these design problems should be fixed, it is only matter of time (stent companies are really interested in this)."
Reader Comments (17)
great article. when is says "But in going into the details of this article we will find that early stage patients (relapsing remitting), in general, improve." does that mean that if you are stable with remitting relapsing ms but have had it for 30 years, that one should expect less improvement than someone only diagnosed 3 or 4 years ago?
Thank you Dr. Simka for responding to this 'debate'. Many of us felt it wasn't a debate at all, but more of an ambush. I am so sorry that Dr. Godley was treated in this manner. The University the Neurologist is from is a very good one, so I was shocked at the responses that were more like attacks. I also felt the statement of only vascular surgeons should address this issue, when this Dr. wasn't a vascular surgeon himself.
thank you for clearing up any nagging questions I had about stenting.
Dr. Simka, THANK YOU. You are so appreciated because you took the time to support "our Dr. Godley". The commentator unfortunately was some what bullied by Dr. Stewart, in my opinion. Your explanation of treating CCSVI is very clear. Thank you again for your opinion on March 2nd of my son's Doppler Ultrasound at False Creek Surgical Centre in Vancouver.
This is very important for all to read. So, i took the liberty and posted the link into the TIMS forums.
Thank you very much. Very good job.
Dr. Simka, thank you!
My stent in my left jugular from you 6 months ago is just fine. I have more improvements.
Thank you and your team!
Erika
Dr. Simka,
Clear, logical and very informative. Thank you. Perhaps 90% of physicians on the other side of this debate sre demonstrating severe constipation which, as you know, leads to a reflux of ----- .
Thank you Dr Simka for the very precise account of the CCSVI/MS relationship that
is unknown yet (more studies needed in this correlation), just like heart disease, renal disease has a relationship to diabetes THAT is now proven. The Vascular anomalies belong to your specialty VASCULAR; that is where our argument should lie. Again THANK YOU for stepping forward to give everyone a clear view on this matter.
Thank you so much for clarifying Dr Simka !
Steffi
Thank you for your comments Dr. Simka. It was a painful debate to listen to, so terribly one-sided. If I may ask a question? Does it matter if the stenosis is not a fixed stenosis but is a dynamic one?
Thank you very, very much for clearing up alot of questions my wife and I have had about the Liberation treatment.
www.liberationtreatmentindia.com would be launched in next few days to help patients around the world to get Liberation Treatment done in India with good outcomes and at best value.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/31184830/Liberation-Treatment-for-Multiple-Sclerosis
If I had a greenback for each time I came here.. Superb post!
If only I had a dime for each time I came to for-greet.squarespace.com.. Superb post!
Dr. Simka and all the doctors involved in ccsvi for ms. We thank you from every part of our dysfunctional bodies. We know the truth now. The neuros have lost their credibility because they lied, exploited our illness for the dollar. You are the heros of today and forever. God bless you and all your colleagues including the AMAZING DR. ZAMBONI.
Thank you Dr. Simka for all your responses to these questions that have been going through my mind over.....and over again. I feel so much better prepared and comfortable, I feel I'm in good hands.......I will see you Sept. 28 for my surgery on Sept 29, I know it will come soon.....and Marta is a great lady, so kind and helpful, and the other lady as well, I can't remember her name.
Life can be met when they don't miss, good productreplca tag heuer|
really missed, especially now that fake products on the society, support, high quality goods!
It is really good, I like the response of many people who are studying about it, I want to read more about it, now I will study about it when I have more time and I stopped to Buy Viagra, so thanks for sharing it was so interesting to read.