Author: Angelica Rodezno

LEG SWELLING FOLLOWING COSMETIC VEIN OR BACK SURGERY

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Every year thousands of patients in the US undergo cosmetic vein procedures in the hope of getting rid of their swollen legs and unsightly varicose veins. In like manner, many patients having back surgery also suffer from swollen legs following their surgery. Unfortunately, in a large percentage of these patients, a well known but often unrecognized and undiagnosed condition know as Iliac Vein Compression is the cause of this unexpected complication. Further complicating this issue is that even when the procedure is successful, patients complain of on-going leg swelling, heaviness, and pain in their legs.

Internet searches for, “Why do my legs continue to swell following my varicose vein or back surgery?” are everywhere on the internet and lead many patients to simplified, incomplete answers. Confused, patients return to their primary care or specialist seeking answers to their questions and are told that leg swelling is a known complication of this kind of procedure and that they must learn to live with this complication. Patients are left in a difficult position where they continue to suffer and have no answers for what to do next

Over the past 5 years, significant advances in medical imaging and device technology have given Vascular surgeons new ways to treat leg swelling. Today, with the help of this new technology, trained vascular surgeons are able to restore normal blood flow to the lower legs in a straightforward, outpatient procedure that has led to significantly better outcomes than ever before possible.

Dr. Kokinos, a board certified vascular and general surgeon, is a nationally recognized expert in treating a medical condition known as iliac-vein compression or May Thurner’s disease. In her nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center located in Campbell, CA. Dr Kokinos has performed over 250 IVUS procedures (a specialized intravascular ultrasound scan) to evaluate for and to treat this disease. Dr. Kokinos is a highly sought after expert in this area of vascular surgery and has has presented her findings at pre-eminent vascular surgery conferences in Miami, Fl. OEIS, San Francisco Vascular Surgery meetings and in Cypress, Greece where she has spoken to global audiences about her work in the care and treatment of patients suffering from swollen legs.

If you or anyone you know suffers from swollen legs, especially left leg swelling, have been diagnosed with a DVT (blood clot), or experiences leg swelling, excessive pain following a cosmetic vein procedure (EVLT, Laser Sclerotheraphy etc.) or back surgery ask your physician to speak with you about May-Thurner’s disease and Iliac Vein Compression.

At South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute we can help fix your swollen, achy legs and can help you “Get Back Your Life”.

If you or anyone you know suffers from a swollen leg following a cosmetic vein or back surgery, give us a call at 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM SWOLLEN LEGS? WE CAN HELP!

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Do you Suffer From Iliac Vein Compression?

To answer that question, take a few seconds to consider the following:

▪ Are your legs swollen? Is your left leg larger than your right?
▪ Is it harder to slip one shoe on in the morning than the other?
▪ Have you had cosmetic or other surgical procedure done and not gotten the outcome you wanted?
▪ Are you a cancer patient undergoing treatment or procedures?
▪ Have you ever suffered from a blood clot or (DVT) in your leg
▪ Do you visit a wound care clinic with little to no success?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you MAY be suffering from a well known, but previously difficult to diagnose problem called May-Thurner’s Syndrome.

May Thurner’s Syndrome, also known as iliac Vein Compression, is a condition where the main artery supplying blood to the leg pushes down or compresses the main vein taking blood back to your heart. Previously undiagnosed, major advances in medical imaging technology have given vascular surgeons the tools needed to demonstrate that May Thurner’s syndrome is directly responsible for the slowing of blood going back to ones heart resulting in the swelling and or edema of the leg. These same studies have shown that in a full 30% of all people, the left iliac vein can be significantly compressed by the right iliac artery resulting in some kind of leg symptom….aching, heaviness, and most commonly, swelling or non-healing of wounds in the leg veins.

The Physicians and Surgeons at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute specialize in treating Iliac Vein Compression. To diagnose and to treat this condition and the potentially deadly side effects caused by it (Blood Clots or Deep Venous Thrombosis) Dr. Kokinos has assembled a highly skilled team of vascular ultrasonographer’s who have developed a specialized screening protocol to evaluate for Iliac Vein Compression. Using state of the art ultrasonic imaging technology Registered Vascular Ultrasonographer’s use this new protocol and ultrasonic sound waves to scan up into the abdomen of their patients to examine the physics of the blood flow in this area. If a patient is found to have iliac vein compression, and is symptomatic for this condition, we then recommend IVUS–intravascular ultrasound and iliac vein stenting to re-establish blood flow in this area by opening up the compressed blood vessel in this area.

South Bay Vascular Center is a specialized vascular surgical facility dedicated entirely to treating vascular related illnesses. Unlike in a traditional hospital operating room, South Bay Vascular’s nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center is designed specifically to treat this kind of circulatory disease. Using advanced imaging equipment and device technology designed specifically for vascular related illnesses Dr. Kokinos is able to treat IVC disease in her outpatient surgery center setting in Campbell, CA. Treating her patients in this kinder and gentler environment Dr. Kokinos simplifies what has traditionally been the difficult, unfriendly and often times complicated admissions process of a traditional hospital. To date, Dr. Kokinos has successfully performed over 200 of these iliac vein stent procedures in her out-patient angiography suite and has lectured extensively at major vascular surgery meetings on her approach and success helping patients reduce leg swelling, increase the rate of wound healing and return to a normal way of living.

If you are currently experiencing a swollen leg, have a non healing leg, foot,or ankle wounds or have ever suffered a blood clot (DVT) please contact our office at 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment.

Don’t suffer from swollen legs or non-healing leg ulcers any longer.

We can help!

408-376-3626

WWW.SOUTHBAYVASCULAR.COM

LOS GATOS VARICOSE VEIN DOCTOR

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is proud to celebrate our 25th year serving the Greater San Jose Bay Area. Our commitment to serving our patients as an independent medical clinic means that our patients are never “just” another number in a Big Box Medical system.

Unlike other physicians who have spent their entire careers as part of large regional health care systems, Dr Kokinos has dedicated her entire career to serving the South Bay Community as an independent physician. She takes the time to understand your symptoms so that she can provide her patients with the best possible solutions to help them get their legs and their life’s back. At South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, we find the “Why”so that you have real solutions to living a healthy life.

Our philosophy is “One Patient, One Doctor, One Nurse”…not how many patients can we see to meet Big Box Medicine’s patient quotas.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute brings 25 years and 20,000 varicose vein procedures to you as our patients. As Los Gatos’ most experienced vein treatment center, we Invite you to

Love Your Legs Again

If you suffer from painful and unsightly varicose veins WE CAN HELP! Silicon Valley’s most trusted varicose vein clinic and treatment center.

CALL US AT 408-376-3626 TO LEARN HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GET BACK YOUR LIFE.

“We Offer Hope When Others Say There Is None”

WOUND CARE EXPERTS IN SAN JOSE; NON-HEALING LEG OR ANKLE WOUNDS

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Leg and foot wounds have become a huge problem in the United States. Fortunately, there are thousands of Wound Care Centers to help with the day to day care of these painful and potentially dangerous wounds. Wound care centers are usually affiliated with hospitals and function as one of many resources that a patients with wounds has at their disposal in an effort to keep their wounds from progressing to where amputation may be the only choice left to salvage the limb. Unfortunately, in many of these wound care centers an underlying cause for why many of these non-healing wounds don’t heal in a timely manner is often overlooked: circulation to the leg or foot. This can be either on the arterial side (Delivering oxygen and nutrients necessary to heal the affected area) or on the venous sid​e, (Removing toxins and fluid from the affected area).

Research has shown that about 70% of people who seek care at Wound Care Centers have an underlying circulation issue. Unfortunately, the current practice in most wound care centers is that this circulatory problem is not diagnosed or considered until after months of futile debridement and dressing changes have failed to achieve long term healing. In an effort to best treat non-healing leg wounds it is critical, therefore, for patients to have their circulation evaluated by a Vascular Surgeon.

This is even more important in patients over the age of 50, if there has EVER been a history of smoking, diabetes, or hypertension.

Finally, this evaluation must be done at the very start of a wound care patients treatment and not be put off until after debridement and other topical approaches have failed. If you or a loved one is currently being seen at a wound care center for non-healing leg wound it is vital that you insist upon getting a vascular ultrasound study if it has not already been done.

Testing for circulation is a non-invasive process and can be done, in most cases, in under an hour. Testing is pain free and does not involve the use of any drugs and or anesthesia. Using simple sound waves a Registered Vascular Ultrasonographer can easily scan for circulatory deficiencies and provide your physician with the critical information they need to develop a plan for how to best approach healing your wounds.

Non-healing leg wounds and ulcers fall into several different categories:

Diabetic Wounds: If you have diabetes, you may be prone to foot ulcers since you may not have protective sensation on your feet. Causes of foot ulcers include excessive pressure or rubbing against the skin that may result from wearing ill-fitting shoes or walking barefoot.

Arterial Wounds: Complete or partial arterial blockage can lead to ulcers. If you have arterial disease, you may have tests to measure blood flow or to locate a blockage in your arteries.

Venous Wounds: These ulcers are usually a symptom of venous disease, where the veins in your legs are compromised, causing blood to build up. Typical venous ulcers appear near the ankle and are often painful.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, with offices in both Campbell and Gilroy, CA. specializes in the treatment of Non-healing leg and foot wounds. Led by Dr. Polyxene Kokinos, MD. RPVI. South Bay Vascular Center Physicians are world class experts in revascularization techniques that can help re-establish blood flow to areas suffering from circulatory illness. Recognized as an expert in her field, Dr. Kokinos teaches advanced revascularization techniques to local vascular surgeons looking to offer similar care to their patients. If you or anyone you know suffers from non-healing leg or foot wounds, call today at 408-376-3626 to schedule your appointment.

WE OFFER HOPE WHEN OTHERS SAY THERE IS NONE!

SOUTH BAY VASCULAR CENTER LAUNCHES THEIR 2020 EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON LEG SWELLING; NON-HEALING LEG WOUNDS; AND LEG PAIN

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Leg Swelling in not a normal part of aging…and can be a sign of a more serious medical issue.

Click on the link below to find out more about South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute’s 2020 educational campaign to educate patients on leg swelling and their options for how to manage this.

https://bap-siliconvalley.advanced-pub.com/?issueID=168&pageID=19

LOS GATOS VARICOSE VEIN DOCTOR

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Type “Varicose Vein” into Google search and in seconds, multiple links pop up; each one pointing to a different website; each website claiming that their “Vein Doctor” is the “best”; and each practitioner promising to rid you of your ugly, painful veins, leg swelling and non-healing ulcers. Lost in this hype, finding the right physician might seem impossible. When everyone in cyberspace claims to be the best and backs up their claims by citing an endless list of credentials, professional affiliations and most importantly, showing off their work: their before and after galleries… it gets confusing.

Choosing the best doctor for your specific condition can be a difficult decision and should only be made after serious consideration of the available options. In the best of scenarios, patients should visit as many doctors as they can; to interview and to question them about everything relating to their condition. In these visits, patients are encouraged to evaluate everything from the reception staff to the vascular ultrasonographer; is your vascular ultrasound done “in-house”..is the ultrasonographer a registered ultrasound technologist…or are you sent to the hospital for an ultrasound. All of this makes a difference because your doctor will make their diagnosis on the basis of your ultrasound report. Ultrasounds must be read by a RPVI registered physician, not simply a radiologist… as the two physicians will look for vastly different signs relating to vascular disease and health. Keep in mind if the study isn’t read correctly, the procedure can go poorly.

Dr. Kokinos is a ABMS Board Certified General And Vascular Surgeon with extensive training in the diagnosis and the treatment of vascular disease. Her award winning South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is the South Bay’s largest Vascular Surgery practice specializing in the treatment of vascular disease, including Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Leg Swelling, the Treatment for DVT’s, and Varicose Veins. If you or anyone you know suffers from any of the conditions listed above, or have had complications with cosmetic vein procedures, Dr. Kokinos is happy to discuss your treatment options. Dr Kokinos and her staff have performed over 20,000 Varicose Vein patients in the past 25 year serving the South Bay Community as a Board Certified Vascular and General Surgeon.

If you or anyone you know suffers from Varicose Veins, Leg Swelling or other circulatory related illnesses call our office today at 408-376-3626 to schedule a consultation to Get Your Life Back.

LEG SWELLING IS NOT A NORMAL PART OF AGING

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Leg swelling is not a normal part of aging—
and can be a sign of serious issues.
by Polly Kokinos, MD, RPVI

Chronic leg swelling on one side (usually the left leg) may be caused by Iliac Vein Compression, which is a little-known but fairly common condition that occurs when the left iliac vein gets “squeezed” between the spine and the right iliac artery. Although this condition is not life-threatening, leg swelling can greatly impact one’s quality of life, and can lead to wound healing problems or deep blood clots.

Dr. Polyxene (Polly) Kokinos is the founder of South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute and one of Northern California’s most experienced and trusted vascular surgeons. She has been active in doing clinical research for this condition and has treated more of these types of patients than any other physician on the West Coast.

Dr. Kokinos explains, “Many patients have the common misconception is that leg swelling is a normal part of aging—or caused by being a few pounds overweight. That is not often the case. Problems in the circulation system can cause a variety of serious issues, ranging from spider veins and varicose veins and leg swelling, non-healing wounds, and blood clots. These are not just cosmetic problems.”

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Kokinos and her team of specially trained professionals are dedicated to providing compassionate outpatient care for patients suffering from a wide range of circulatory problems such as swollen, aching legs, non-healing leg wounds, blood clots (DVT), dialysis access problems, varicose veins, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

South Bay Vascular’s main office in Campbell includes a medical clinic, state-of the art ultrasound lab and nationally accredited out-patient ambulatory surgery center all under one roof. Patients receive the most advanced treatment available as well as compassionate care in a warm, welcoming environment. Patients say that the friendly office staff is very responsive scheduling appointments, answering questions, and handling all insurance claims.

With offices in both Campbell (2255 South Bascom Avenue) and Gilroy (8420 Church Street), South Bay Vascular clinics are easily accessible to patients throughout the South Bay. To learn more, call
408-376-3626 or visit SouthBayVascular.com.

WHY LEG SWELLING MAY BE MORE SERIOUS THAN YOU THOUGHT

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Leg Swelling may be the sign of a more serious health issue than one might expect. A recent article published by the Cleveland Clinic, one of the nations top medical facilities, is titled,

“When is Leg Swelling A Sign of Something Serious” Click below to read the entire article

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-is-leg-swelling-a-sign-of-something-serious/

This brief article does an exceptional job discussing leg swelling in easily understood terms and gives a clear warning at the end that we encourage patients to heed….

“Swollen legs are often a sign of a bigger problem… if you have leg swelling, you should get checked out by your primary care doctor to figure out what’s going on.”

The physicians and staff at South Bay Vascular Center, with offices in both Campbell and Gilroy, CA. are recognized experts in how to diagnose and treat leg swelling. If you or anyone you know suffers from leg swelling, especially left leg swelling call us today to schedule an appointment at 408-376-3626.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute…..“We offer hope when others say there is none”

DOES FOOT PAIN WAKE YOU UP AT NIGHT

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Many patients as they get older, get up at night to go to the bathroom or because of difficulty sleeping. One serious problem that can wake people up at night is pain in their foot or toes.

This most often occurs in patients over the age of 65 who have a history of smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol. Some believe this is arthritis or gout, but it is often related to having poor circulation in the foot. The name for this in medical terms is “rest pain”. This is not “pain at rest” but rather pain that happens because the circulation cannot support the tissues even when they are at rest.

This is a sign of critical limb ischemia—another word for lack of blood flow. The arteries are so blocked that they cannot even deliver the minimal amount of oxygen the tissues in the foot and toes require to be happy. Patients often self-adapt to this problem, as it does usually develop slowly over time. They sometimes will tell you their foot doesn’t bother them at night, but on further questioning, you learn they sleep in a recliner or they sleep with their leg hanging over the side of the bed.

The trick here is that when the leg is hanging down, gravity helps pull down a little more blood to the foot so that it doesn’t hurt. Interestingly, the foot often also gets swollen, so the patient is often MIS-DIAGNOSED with a vein problem, not an arterial problem. …that’s why it is the “Right” experience that matters in diagnosing these kinds of vascular problems and why more local independent physicians refer their vein and vascular patients to Dr Kokinos than to any other vascular surgeon in the Silicon Valley Region.  https://www.southbayvascular.com/blog/the-right-experience-counts-when-it-comes-to-your-health/ The patient often thinks that they get up at night to go to the bathroom, but the truth is the foot pain wakes them up, they get out of bed because that makes it feel better (again due to gravity), they go to the bathroom because they think they have to (or maybe really do), and then they can go back to sleep pain -free for a couple of hours. Usually , the pain does wake them up multiple times a night, and that ‘s why they often end up sleeping in a chair.

If this sounds like something you or someone you love is experiencing, it is important to tell your primary care doctor or to schedule an appointment DIRECTLY with a vascular surgeon. These symptoms are a sign that your body is giving you that you need immediate help. This truly is a sign that your foot is starving for oxygen and blood and that if left untreated, might lead to an unnecessary amputation. Help is possible, however and if treated early enough, those suffering from these symptoms can be helped significantly.

If you suffer from painful feet in the middle of the night, contact us today  at 408-376-3626 to learn more about PAD and how Dr. Kokinos can help, click here.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute: We Offer Hope When Others Say There Is None.