Could Bypass Surgery Become a Thing of the Past?

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario, led by Dr. Geoffrey Pickering …  have found a solution: …. successfully regenerating the blood vessels, but doing so in a way that prevents them from “shriveling up.”

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario, led by Dr. Geoffrey Pickering …  have found a solution: …. successfully regenerating the blood vessels, but doing so in a way that prevents them from “shriveling up.”

The strategy has been successful so far. Employing it in adult mice not only led to blood vessels that have lasted so far for over a year, but the blood vessels themselves are now surrounded with muscle tissue — meaning that the body is able to use those vessels to properly regulate blood flow.

If this or a similar strategy is effective in humans, it could mean fewer heart attacks and could also make bypass surgeries a thing of the past. Moreover, ischemia doesn’t only affect the heart — it can also lead to strokes, when blood flow to the brain is restricted. Ischemia is also a problem for diabetes patients, which can sometimes lead to disability or even amputation when blood flow to the limbs is cut off. This type of treatment may be effective for those situations as well.

Alex Knapp in Forbes.