Pioneering Tampa surgeon uses stem cells to treat ailing hearts

TAMPA The Tampa surgeon who conducted Floridas first heart transplant, a radical procedure at the time, had confidence it would help improve his patients quality of life.

Hes pushing ahead with the same confidence in a new arena now only this time, much of the work is being done outside the United States because its deemed too risky here.

Heart patients, again, are among those who stand to benefit from the new procedure boosting and injecting adult stem cells to help repair damaged parts of the body.

It works, said the surgeon, Raghavendra Vijaynagar. It is only a start. Perhaps one day stem cells can do much more for someones heart.

Stephen Carre is a believer. The 63-year-old Sun City man had a history of heart problems just walking across the room brought on chest pains and shortness of breath but he didnt rate a top spot on the list of heart transplant candidates. He underwent the new procedure in the Bahamas and now is playing softball again.

I felt like a guinea pig, Carre said. But I was desperate, and I trusted Dr. Vijay.

The Food and Drug Administration requires more than that, including extensive sanctioned clinical studies to prove the procedure is safe for patients.

Anything less raises questions among skeptics such as Dr. Charles Lambert, of Tampa, medical director of the Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and Dr. Kiran Patel Research Institute.

Hundreds of clinical studies are taking place throughout the United States, Lambert noted, to determine whether stem cells are safe and effective for Alzheimers disease, diabetes, spinal problems, heart conditions and more. He said he doesnt believe the studies have proved anything.

There is a reason there is currently no FDA-approved products on the market, Lambert said.

Go here to read the rest:
Pioneering Tampa surgeon uses stem cells to treat ailing hearts