CCSVI at OLV Hospital Aalst, Belgium

High quality CCSVI treatment at OLV Hospital in Aalst, Belgium is now accessible and affordable thanks to WorldMed Assist Medical Travel programs.
Our CCSVI program in the beautiful and historic destination of Aalst, Belgium is excellent. At OLV, you will be cared for by the most experienced CCSVI surgical team in Belgium. All the while, you will have a team assisting you in OLV every step of the way. Other highlights:

• Dr. Beelen and his team will be doing your treatment. Dr. Beelen is a vascular surgeon noted in his field for unparalleled research and continuing advocacy on behalf of MS patients regarding CCSVI Treatment as demonstrated by his publications and many CCSVI treatments.
• OLV Hospital is the most renowned hospital in Belgium and has provided cardiac surgery to the King of Belgium: fit for a King.
• Treatment in a Western European country where people are fluent in English, French and Dutch.
• Outpatient procedure allowing for comfort of lovely 4 star hotels Keizershof
• Extensive assistance by our own WorldMed Assist staff on site such as airport pickup/dropoff, appointment to appointment, etc.

Your surgical team

Besides the groundbreaking CCSVI treatment, your expert surgical team also specializes in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, urology and neurological surgery as well as general surgery. Your team routinely performs over 40,000 operations per year with 270 physicians and 1000 nurses. OLV is also known as the center of excellence especially in cardiothoracic surgery including catheterization and open-heart surgery offering medical fellowship training in these areas as well. OLV Hospital became famous for doing the open heart surgery on Belgium’s king recently, laying claim to be ‘fit for a king’. Your CCSVI OLV Surgical Team is lead by Dr. Beelen, vascular surgeon noted in his field for unparalleled research and continuing advocacy on behalf of MS patients regarding CCSVI Treatment as demonstrated by his publications and world recognition. The entire team has extensive international training, and is one of the most experienced in Europe.. A team-based approach is bound to result in better results for you.

The Procedure

Prior to treatment you will receive extensive pre-op testing consisting of an MRVenogram of the jugular and vertebral veins (the azygos vein will be examined during the procedure), blood test and neurological assessment. Testing will also include a 3T MRI, capable of studies of the brain, spine, chest, abdomen, pelvis, vasculature, and extremities. This can provide higher-quality images than those obtained at 1.5T. The greater overall signal of 3T can be manipulated to make scanning more comfortable and decrease motion artifact, as scan times can be half as long. The actual CCSVI procedure will be done under general anesthesia for maximum comfort. Unlike at most other hospitals, veins treated will be the azygos, both internal jugular veins and the vertebral veins. This procedure usually takes between 2-4 hours, much longer than at some other hospitals since the medical team likes to take their time in order to provide you with the best results possible. After your procedure, you generally will stay for 6-8 hours for observation. In some cases an overnight stay will be required.
However, this is typically an outpatient procedure allowing for comfort at the lovely 4-star hotel Keizershof. After hospital discharge, you should restrain from strenuous activities and lifting for 2-3 days.

The Hospital

OLV Hospital Aalst, Belgium

All of your treatments are performed at the OLV Hospital Aalst, Belgium, OLV is known for its world-class medical facilities and a center of excellence for the surrounding countries in Europe. OLV Hospital is best-known hospital in Belgium, providing cardiac surgery to the King of Belgium. Recently renovated with beautiful, world-class amenities and an additional 40,000m² wing, now accommodating 844 beds hospital wide; The renovations include ground-breaking technology in solar power, including photovoltaic cells which create solar energy and provide a beautiful aesthetic appearance. Throughout the hospital, Eight CAYIN SMP-WEBPLUS digital signage players have been installed to enhance communication between doctors, departments and patients. OLV is easily accessible by plane, Eurostar train, by car along with door-to-door assistance by our our team on the ground. These advantages provide an unparalleled standard in convenience to the patient.

WorldMed Assist local team

Your comfort and peace of mind are our top priorities.
Once you arrive at OLV, our own WorldMed Assist team will be at your side to assist you every step of the way.
Also, we will be able to accommodate French, English, Dutch, and German speaking patients.
In order to minimize your concerns, our team will also handle administrative matters including scheduling appointments and obtaining medical equipment such as wheelchairs.
Our services are one-of-a kind and reflect the hospitable atmosphere that OLV is known for.

A word about the City of Aalst, Belgium

Aalst is a cozy provincial town half way between Brussels (25km) and Ghent (30km), built on the shores of the Dender River.
Historically, Aalst was first mentioned in AD 840 as a dependancy of the Lobbes abbaye, and shortly later when sacked by the Danes. Aalst boasts the eldest belfry in the Netherlands. Together with the City hall (13th cent) the St Martin’s churchdominates the town center and offers it a timeless beauty. Its people are Dutch-speaking (Flemish) and have great command of French as well as English.
The town is important as an educational, commercial and industrial center for the surrounding villages. Aalst, by the way, has one of the oldest and largest carnaval-traditions in Belgium.