General Surgery: Varicose Veins - Stem Cell Therapy

WHAT IS A STEM CELL?

Stem Cell is an undifferentiated cell that can transform into different cell types. These cells form the basic structure of the embryo, but they are also present in our body after birth. The main tissues where stem cells are found in adult life are; bone marrow, fat tissue and blood.
 

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF STEM CELL THERAPY?

Fibroblast cells are needed for the healing of a wound and the formation of tissues, endothelium is needed for the formation of vessels in the wound area, and kerotinocyte cells are needed for the formation of the skin and complete closure of the wound.

If these cells are seriously damaged or sick due to negative reasons such as age or chronic diseases (diabetes, vascular occlusions, previous cancer and chemotherapy, etc.), they cannot be regenerated naturally, therefore wound healing is delayed or even cannot occur.

 

In such cases, stem cells obtained from bone marrow or adipose tissue are applied to the affected area, facilitating the generation of healthy and functional cells to replace diseased or damaged ones. These stem cells differentiate into the specific cell types required for that region, thereby markedly enhancing the process of wound healing.

 

WHERE CAN STEM CELLS BE OBTAINED FROM? HOW ARE THEY ADMINISTERED?

 

The most commonly utilized sources are adipose tissue and bone marrow. This procedure is carried out in an operating room under strictly sterile conditions. Adipose tissue is extracted through a process known as liposuction. Bone marrow is obtained from the pelvic region using a syringe after local anesthesia is administered.

Following the extraction of either fat tissue or bone marrow, the stem cells within these tissues are isolated using specialized systems and suspended in a small volume of liquid, typically a few millimeters. The entire process generally takes approximately 2-3 hours. Subsequently, the resulting stem cells are promptly administered to the wound area.

Hospitalization is unnecessary for this procedure; it can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Stem cells are not the first option in wound treatment. It should be preferred if all factors hindering wound healing have been eliminated, good wound care has been applied and/or if there is no response to other treatment methods.

 

WHAT IS THE HEALING PROCESS?

 

Stem cells possess the unique ability to self-renew, as they are not yet specialized cells. While they can differentiate into cells specific to the tissues they originate from, they also have the capacity to transform into specialized cells beyond their original cell type, prompted by specific biological signals. These specialized stem cells, known as adult stem cells, are present in various organs of the human body, including the bone marrow, heart, kidney, brain, skin, eye, gastrointestinal system, liver, pancreas, lung, breast, ovary, prostate, and testicle. As an organism matures, the quantity of stem cells naturally decreases. Consequently, adult tissues retain a limited number of stem cells. This decline in stem cell population correlates with a reduction in the regenerative potential of an organ, which occurs concurrently with the aging process.

The purpose of stem cell therapy, one of the new generation non-healing wound treatment methods, is to increase and intensify the small amount of stem cells in the body. Stem cells, which are increased up to 8 times with special filters from 20 ml of blood taken from the patient, are applied to the non-healing tissues, accelerating the healing in the tissue and ensuring the closure of the wounds.

 

STEM CELL TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS

Stem cell treatment has shown promising results in the effective management of varicose ulcers in the legs.

Discussing a recent stem cell treatment conducted, Prof. Dr. Serdar Günaydın explained that they applied this method for the first time to a 50-year-old patient who had previously undergone four different treatments for a varicose ulcer on his leg without success. They obtained 4.5 million adult stem cells using specialized filters from just 20 ml of the patient's blood, which they then applied to the wound surface. Prof. Dr. Günaydın noted that they observed an 85 percent coverage of the wound area with original skin tissue within a week.

These successful outcomes suggest that adult stem cell applications, like this one, hold significant promise as a highly effective method for treating non-healing wounds in the future.

 

FOR WHICH MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN STEM CELL THERAPY BE ADVANTAGEOUS?

 

Stem cell therapy, one of the most popular and exciting treatment approaches of recent times, appears as an innovative treatment method especially for patients who have persistent pain and cannot get results from classical drug treatment for a long time.

 

Repairs Damaged Structures

 

One of the conditions that can benefit from stem cell therapy involves discomfort arising from compromised tissues and functions. This discomfort can manifest as shoulder pain, knee pain, ankle pain, or heel spur pain. Often, underlying health issues like joint wear or nerve damage contribute to this pain. Stem cell therapy facilitates the restoration of these damaged structures by utilizing the body's own cells for repair. In stem cell treatment, not only direct stem cells but also stem cell-like cells can be employed. The goal of the treatment is to restore normal bodily function, ensuring a pain-free experience using the individual's own tissue.

 

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