BLOOD THINNING MEDICATIONS PART 2: ANTIPLATELETS: PLAVIX AND ASPIRIN. WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY USED?

Posted on May 11, 2022May 12, 2022 by Michael Kokinos

Last week I began a description of the medications that vascular surgeons use with a blog post on drugs used for anticoagulation. This week, I want to describe a group of medications that also thin the blood, albeit through a different mechanism. As discussed last week, the coagulation cascade works to turn the blood from a liquid to a solid. A special group of cells in the blood mixed with red blood cells called platelets works simultaneously with the coagulation cascade to serve as the glue so to speak between clumps of red blood cells. This bond that platelets facilitate with clotted blood helps clot to attach and build upon other collections of clot, thereby facilitating the control of bleeding that the clotting system was designed for.

Obviously, in the case of vascular surgery we often times want to prevent blood clotting from occurring. The main agents we use are aspirin and plavix (clopidogrel). In the early 2000s literature from interventional cardiology for minimally invasive heart procedures found that placing patients on aspirin and plavix together reduced the incidence of recurrent heart attacks as well as death. This literature from cardiology has been extrapolated to the lower extremity circulation and allows the interventions we perform in the lower extremities to fix blood flow to stay open for a long period of time. In addition to the use of aspirin and plavix for lower extremity arterial blockages, we also use it in patients who have had a stroke in order to help prevent them from having another stroke.

Aspirin is a low strength blood thinner that patients can take orally as an 81 mg tablet once a day. In the body aspirin blocks a specific enzyme called cyclooxygenase. When cyclooxygenase is inhibited, the enzyme cannot help to produce chemicals in the blood called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are normally responsible for creating an environment that stimulates the clotting of blood via complex but mild mechanisms. Studies have shown generally that patients with cardiovascular disease have a lower incidence of death, stroke, and heart attack over time than patients who do not take aspirin. In general, I tend to make sure that all my patients who have peripheral vascular disease take aspirin as a general preventative measure.

Plavix is a much higher strength blood thinner that binds directly to platelets and completely inhibits their function. When used in concert with aspirin, the blood becomes thin enough to prevent the recurrent blockage of vessels that we have opened up.

Overall the large majority of my patients who receive procedures to fix blood flow to the foot are placed on aspirin and plavix. If you think you might benefit from these medications or are in need of a procedure to fix the blood flow to your feet or brain, please do not hesitate to call my office to schedule an appointment!

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is Silicon Valley’s largest and most trusted Vascular Surgery practice. Serving South Bay communities for over 26 years, Dr Kokinos and her Colleague, Dr Ignatius Lau are the region’s foremost experts in advanced vascular care and provide innovative care for patients suffering from circulation relation problems. At South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute our job is to understand the “Why” so that you have real solutions to living a healthy life. Call us today at 408-376-3626 or visit our website at www.southbayvascular.com to learn about what makes us the most referred to vascular surgery clinic in Silicon Valley.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO READ HOW OUR PATIENTS DESCRIBE THEIR EXPERIENCE AT SOUTH BAY VASCULAR.

https://www.google.com/search?q=south+bay+vascular+center&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS748US759&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450.91302019j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x808e34eecfbc0653:0xb9aa2de7f50ba6a5,1,,,

BLOOD THINNING MEDICATIONS PART 1: ANTICOAGULANTS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY USED?

Posted on May 2, 2022May 11, 2022 by Michael Kokinos

Over the next few weeks, I want to discuss the medications that vascular surgeons may prescribe. These medications include anticoagulants, antiplatelets, statins, and other miscellaneous agents. This week I will discuss anticoagulants!

Anticoagulation refers to agents that STOP the clotting of blood. The clotting of blood starts with what is known as the coagulation cascade. The cascade refers to a series of consecutive events each involving special proteins that are needed to occur for blood to form a clot. Different anticoagulants block specific parts of the cascade. The main reason we usually see patients with anticoagulants are for hypercoagulable states, certain heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, and deep vein thromboses otherwise known as blood clots. Hypercoagulable states are specific genetically inherited disorders that result in the blood being more likely to clot. Atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias can cause blood clots to form in the heart.

Anticoagulant agents are given to prevent the formation of clots in the heart that can then break off and go to the brain, hands, feet, kidneys, or any other part of the body and cause problems.

Deep vein thrombosis or blood clots mandate the prescription of anticoagulant therapy to ensure that more blood clot does not form.

Anticoagulants can be broken up by many different classification schemes. For the purposes of this blog, I will limit our discussion here to agents that are appropriate for the OUTPATIENT (Outside of the hospital) setting. Please speak with you private physician to answer any additional questions you may have regarding Anticoagulation medication of feel free to reach out to me directions for more information on how anticoagulation is used. Anticoagulation agents that are used during hospitalization or in the IN-PATIENT setting in patients are outside the scope of this article.

Up until the 2010’s the mainstay of anticoagulation therapy was with a drug called warfarin (Trade name: Coumadin). Warfarin, though effective, requires the weekly or biweekly measurement of a specific lab for the blood called the prothrombin time. The active monitoring of the prothrombin time facilitates modulation of dosing to always allow for safe levels of effective therapeutic anticoagulation. Since the beginning of the 21st century new agents have come to market that require only taking one or two pills a day. They include Xarelto or Rivaroxaban and Eliquis or apixaban.

If you have a question about how your medications may be affecting your vascular disease, please do not hesitate to call and schedule an appointment today!

BLOOD CLOTS

Posted on January 27, 2022January 28, 2022 by Michael Kokinos

Today, I want to give insight into one of the more common questions I receive as a vascular surgeon: How do I know if I have a blood clot?

Why is this important? Here are a few facts directly from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Anyone can develop a blood clot.
In the United States, as many as 900,000 people are affected by DVT’s each year and
About 100,000 people die of PE annually.

Many factors can put you at risk for a blood clot. These include:

Major trauma
Cancer
Being 55 and older
Having a personal or family history of blood clots
Immobility (such as being on bed rest or difficulty with walking)
Pregnancy, or using estrogen containing medications such as birth
control pills, patches, and hormone replacement therapy
Obesity
Smoking

Almost half of all blood clots occur either during or soon after discharge from a hospital stay or following surgery. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of developing a blood clot will be.

The medical term for blood clot is Deep Vein Thrombosis. (DVT) Veins at their most fundamental level are blood vessels that return blood from the body (e.g. feet, hands, intestines, kidney, etc.) back to the heart. In the legs, there are two main sets of veins: superficial and deep. Deep veins are very close to the muscle and bones. Superficial veins are very close to the skin, hence the name superficial. The word thrombosis derives from the Greek word of the same spelling, thrombosis, which means curdling. In contemporary medicine thrombosis refers to the blood’s transition from liquid to solid. With all these words explained, we can see that a deep vein thrombosis refers to blood clots that are in the deep system of veins in the legs. Though superficial veins can become clotted as well, the symptoms that result are usually not as severe as a deep vein thrombosis.

Once the deep veins of the legs are blocked, blood becomes trapped in the veins below and the blood pressure in the veins increases. Consequently, the leg and foot will become swollen, blue, and tender. Patients often complain of a “tension” or “pulling” sensation in the groin, thigh, and behind the knee. These feelings of tension and pulling are often also considered as very painful. Because of the swelling there may be severe difficulty with tasks as simple as walking to the bathroom or a few feet.

PE’s: A Silent Killer

Sometimes, a piece of clot can break off from the legs and travel to the lungs. This is called pulmonary embolism or PE. Pulmonary refers to lungs and embolism refers to something that breaks off from one place and travels to another. When patients have a blood clot associated with a pulmonary embolism, they will experience:

Shortness of breath
Palpitations/fast heart rate, and
In very severe cases, dizziness associated with fainting.

Recognize The Signs and Symptoms of a Blood Clot

DVT (Arm or Leg) – if you experience any of these, call your doctor as soon as possible.

Swelling of your leg or arm
Pain or tenderness not caused by an injury
Skin that is warm to the touch, with swelling or pain
Redness of the skin, with swelling or pain

PE (Lung) – if you experience any of these, seek medical attention immediately.

Difficulty breathing
Chest pain that worsens with a deep breath
Coughing up blood
Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat

Blood Clots Can Be Prevented

Know your risks and recognize signs and symptoms.
Tell your doctor if you have risk factors for blood clots.
Before any surgery, talk with your doctor about blood clots.
See your doctor as soon as you can if you do have any symptoms.

I hope this blog post can shed some light on blood clots. If you or someone you know are experiencing these types of symptoms, please do not hesitate to visit our website at www.southbayvascular.com to call our office at 408 376 3626 to schedule an appointment today!

YOU HAVE A BLOOD CLOT. NOW WHAT?

Posted on January 10, 2022January 13, 2022 by Michael Kokinos

One of the most common consultations that we as vascular surgeons receive is for deep vein thrombosis, otherwise known as blood clots. Deep veins refer to the location of the vein that has the problem. In the legs we have two main sets of veins: Deep and superficial. Deep veins are within the muscle and close to the bones whereas superficial veins are close to the skin; hence their names!

Thrombosis refers to the process of the blood turning from a liquid into a solid form. Normally, thrombosis occurs in response to an injury to stop bleeding from a wound. However, when thrombosis occurs in the deep veins, it stops blood from being transported from the foot back to the heart. The obstruction of flow results in swelling and pain below where the thrombus, or clot, has formed.

There are many causes of blood clots, but the most common causes include:

Traveling for extended periods of time in a sitting or resting position.
Trauma, including accidents which cause broken bones or bruises.
Narrowing of the veins of the pelvis, and
Specific genetic mutations that increase the likelihood of the blood forming clots.
In older patients, another potential cause of blood clots without any other cause is cancer. Cancer, unfortunately, can result in the release of chemicals and hormones within the body that make clotting more likely.

For patients who develop a blood clot in the context of traveling, narrowed pelvic veins, or having a traumatic injury to the affected leg, treatment involves a 3-month course of blood thinning medication followed by ultrasound tests to determine the stability of the clot. If the symptoms improve and the clot remains stable, then the medication to thin the blood can be stopped at 3 months.

For travelers who are forced to sit for extended periods without being able to move, making an effort to walk around intermittently throughout the traveling can be helpful. For example, on the plane, every 30 minutes stand up and walk up and down the aisle 3-4 times. For patients who have a traumatic injury to their leg, the best choice would be to avoid, if possible, situations that led to the particular accident. Finally, in patients with narrowed pelvic veins, I as a vascular surgeon can help relieve the narrowing with a special minimally invasive procedure called a venogram. In the procedure, I place a self-expanding tube called a stent into the compressed vein via a small 2 mm puncture site in the groin to make sure the compressed vein remains open.

For those patients who did not have a traumatic accident, narrowed pelvic veins, recent travel, or a high suspicion of cancer, referral to a hematologist, or a doctor who specializes in disorders of the blood, can be helpful. The hematologist can help order special genetic tests to determine if there is a genetic predisposition to forming clots. In patients who do end up having genetic mutations, long-term placement on blood thinning medications can help prevent further events.

If you are anyone that you know is suffering from a blood clot, please do not hesitate to call our office on 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment! The expertise that vascular surgeons have in this area of medicine is critical to ensure a good outcome!

FOOT PAIN AT NIGHT: IT MIGHT BE MORE SERIOUS THAN YOU THINK

Posted on February 8, 2021February 8, 2021 by Michael Kokinos

Many patients over the age of 65 who have a history of smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol wake up at night with pain in their foot or toes. Some believe this is arthritis or gout; others think it is the result of just spending too much time on their feet during the day. Patients often self-adapt to this problem, as it usually develops slowly over time, but when questioned about their sleep habits, they will sometimes tell you that they sleep in a recliner or they sleep with their leg hanging over the side of the bed to make their pain go away.

It is very common for elderly patients to get up at night to go to the bathroom. Sometimes, however, it’s actually foot pain that wakes them up. Once up, they get out of bed because that makes their feet feel better (again due to gravity) and after walking to the bathroom they can go back to sleep, pain -free for a couple of hours. Even that small amount of walking helps to get their blood flowing again and makes it easier for them to go back to sleep.

Sometimes, foot pain at night is the sign of a more serious condition.

Foot pain at night may be 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.

Foot pain at night may be an early warning sign of critical limb ischemia.

Chronic Limb Ischemia is another term for lack of blood flow; if you experience this rest pain at night and it goes away after hanging your foot over the side of the bed or chair you are sleeping in, immediately call and speak with your doctor to set up an appointment for them to evaluate your symptoms. Although it may come on slowly, the arteries in your feet may be so blocked that they cannot even deliver the minimal amount of oxygen the tissues in the foot and toes need to keep them nourished. Left untreated, this blockage can lead to a more serious problem, amputation or even death.

What’s important for the patient to realize is that chronic limb ischemia causes the foot and leg to get swollen, so the patient is often MIS-DIAGNOSED with a vein problem, not an arterial problem

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/

If this sounds like something you or someone you love is experiencing, it is important to tell your primary care doctor OR schedule an appointment DIRECTLY with a vascular surgeon. These symptoms are a sign that your body is giving you that you may 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, WE CAN HELP

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

THE “RIGHT” EXPERIENCE COUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH

Posted on June 13, 2020June 16, 2020 by Michael Kokinos

The “RIGHT” Experience Counts When It Comes to Your Health! South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is the Bay Area’s Most Trusted Varicose Vein Clinic and Treatment Center.

Having performed over 20,000 vein procedures in the past 24 years, more independent doctors refer their vein patients to Dr. Polyxene (Polly) Kokinos than to any other vascular surgeon in the greater Silicon Valley region. Recognized as San Jose’s most experienced Vascular Surgeon and Varicose Vein Expert, Dr Kokinos offers cutting edge care to patients suffering from all forms of both arterial and venous disease.

Here’s why more local doctors refer to South Bay Vascular than to any other Vascular Surgery Center in the Valley:

The “RIGHT” Experience Counts When it Comes to your Health: South Bay Vascular center has been treating vein patients in a private practice setting for over 24 years.
Cutting edge vascular care in a fully accredited, state of the art, and private out-patient surgery center dedicated entirely to the practice of vascular surgery.
Access to the most Advanced Imaging and Device technologies found anywhere in the world.
On-site fully staffed IAC accredited Vascular Ultrasound Clinic that is operated full time by Registered Vascular Technologists (RVT).
Vascular Studies ready by RPVI certified Vascular Surgeons.
Same day availability for Hemodialysis Access de-clots.
“One-Doctor, One Patient, One Nurse” practice philosophy means we put the patients first.
Full time access to practice physicians
Easy access to care: No admissions departments.
RESULTS: We are MORE than just a colorful website and a Google Adwords campaign. Remember, all that glitters is NOT Gold! https://www.southbayvascular.com/blog/varicose-vein-doctors/

Trust the doctor your physician does.

Remember, Its Not Just Experience That Counts.

When It Comes to Your Health, It’s The “RIGHT” Experience that Matters!

Dr Polyxene Kokinos, Silicon Valley’s Vascular Surgeon.

Call us today at 408-376-3626 to schedule your vein consultation.

Click here to learn more about Dr Kokinos NOT JUST VASCULAR CARE, EXCEPTIONAL VASCULAR CARE

NOT JUST VASCULAR CARE, EXCEPTIONAL VASCULAR CARE

Posted on April 27, 2020May 14, 2020 by Angelica Rodezno

Your health care is complicated enough… finding the right Vascular Surgeon shouldn’t be!

Experience counts when it comes to your health

Polyxene (Polly) Kokinos MD. RPVI. Board Certified in Vascular and General Surgery

Silicon Valley’s Most Trusted Vascular Surgeon.

Dr Kokinos…The Confidence of knowing you made the Right choice for your Vascular care.

The confidence of knowing that your vascular surgeon has been taking care of South Bay patients with vascular disease for almost 30 years.
The confidence of knowing that your surgeon built her private practice one patient at a time for almost a quarter of a century…BECAUSE referring PHYSICIANS TRUST Dr Kokinos to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients: even in the most difficult of circumstances.
The confidence of knowing that your surgeon delivers both world class and compassionate care. That Dr Kokinos is the only Vascular surgeon in the South Bay who has built an independent, nationally accredited, state of the art Vascular Surgery Center of Excellence where SHE takes care of her patients…where cutting edge care is at the heart of everything that she does.
The confidence of knowing that your surgeon has earned the trust of local physicians. More independent local physicians refer their vascular patients to Dr Kokinos than to any other vascular surgeon in Silicon Valley.
The confidence of knowing you will receive the most Advanced and Innovative Care found anywhere in the world…No other vascular surgery practice in Silicon Valley offers a combination of the imaging, device and care options that South Bay Vascular Center can offer to their patients in their private, AAAASF nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center dedicated entirely to the treatment of complex vascular disease. “We offer hope when others say there is none”
The confidence of knowing you will receive Personalized Care…” One Doctor, One Patient, One Nurse” …We’re NOT a hospital; we are more. That’s why we provide individualized care. At South Bay Vascular Center, we care for you as a person, not just as another patient. Our job is to understand the “why” so that you have real solutions to living a healthy life.
The confidence of knowing you will receive Simplified Care: ALL your vascular care under one roof. Clinical care, Vascular Ultrasound care, and Surgical care. All your care in a single facility.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute. Silicon Valley’s Vascular Surgeon.

BLOOD CLOTS AND AIRLINE TRAVEL

Posted on October 1, 2019May 15, 2020 by Angelica Rodezno

People are more mobile today….everyday traveling to more and more places by plane, train, and automobile. Now, more than ever, vast numbers of business people and pleasure seekers cross the globe on a daily basis for work, opportunity and adventure.

As difficult (and as exciting as travel can be) extended periods of immobility during these long trips carries a hidden risk…a sometime fatal risk…especially if one is squished into the middle seat in the back of the plane for hours on end making it difficult to get up and move: the risk of developing a DVT (more commonly known as a blood clot) in the deep veins of their legs.

Veins are a network of blood vessels that work to return blood TO the heart (as compared to arteries which are blood vessels that transfer blood AWAY from the heart) Veins work by using a series of very small valves to keep blood flowing in a single direction and, generally, prevent blood from going back towards the ground even though gravity exerts a constant force to pull the blood down.

One’s calf muscles play a critical role in the venous system. These muscles, when activated, act like a “pump” to help squeeze blood back up through the veins and back up to their heart. When immobile,especially common during long periods of travel, the muscles cannot help the veins do their job, and the blood just sits in your legs. Blood naturally has proteins in it that helps it clot so that you don’t bleed to death after a cut or injury. When these clots develop, the leg can become swollen and painful. Many people develop leg swelling during long plane or car travel. However, one big differentiating factor between that kind of swelling and a DVT is that a DVT usually only happens on one leg. Often, the swelling persists for more than a little while after you get moving again. In addition, the leg, especially in the area of the calf muscle, is often tender when squeezed.

In the event that you experience the kind of symptoms explained above it is vitally important to go to the doctor or emergency room immediately. The most feared complication of a DVT is when the clot in the leg travels to the lung causing a PE—a pulmonary embolus. This can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and even death. In fact, PE is the third most common cause of death in the United States, and few regular people know about it. If you do think you have a blood clot, it is important to get an ultrasound to diagnose it and to be started on blood thinners. It is also very important to see a doctor who specializes in blood clots, often a vascular surgeon, to evaluate whether or not there is another reason in addition to travel that this may have happened. Occasionally, having a DVT is a sign of a more serious underlying issue, and the travel just precipitated its occurrence.

At SBVC, our physicians and surgeons aggressively work up patients who present with the symptoms of a DVT to make sure there is no other contributing factor. We work closely with your primary care doctor, and occasionally call in hematologists (specialists in blood problems) to consult as well. If you or anyone you know suffers from non resolving swollen calf’s or legs following a long flight please call our office at 408-376-3626 to schedule an immediate visit to determine the extent of and appropriate treatment for DVT.

To learn more about blood clots and flying click on the attached link to visit a more detailed article on healthline.com

https://www.healthline.com/health/dvt-and-flying

A MULTI-CULTURAL APPROACH TO VASCULAR CARE

Posted on November 15, 2017May 15, 2020 by Angelica Rodezno

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, with offices in Campbell and Gilroy CA., is recognized as one of the leading vascular surgery practices in Northern California. In addition to their cutting edge work in amputation prevention, South Bay Vascular Center is widely recognized as the leading center for the diagnosis and treatment of iliac-vein compression, medically know as May-Thurners disease, in the whole of the Western United States. Using the most advanced diagnostic imagining technology, Intra Vascular Ultrasound (IVUS), Dr’s Kokinos and Pineda have treated more patients for this mostly undiagnosed cause of leg swelling….a condition which often presents in patients as left leg swelling, than any other medical practice in the region.

Delivering exceptional care, however, involves much more than simply being the best practitioner. Exceptional patient care demands compassionate care. Exceptional patient care is born of a philosophy that understands the patient apart from their disease….it requires an understanding of how disease impacts every part of a patients life…their lifestyle, their family, their friends and most importantly, their future. Communicating this understanding to patients is difficult in the best of circumstances and when patients come from a different cultural system, communication becomes even more difficult.

At South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, we pride ourselves in being able to communicate with our patients across multiple cultural and language barriers. To this point, our physicians and staff speak many different languages and represent a diversity of cultural and faith traditions. As native speakers South Bay Vascular Staff can communicate with our patients in the following languages:

Spanish
Greek
German
Hindi
Farsi
Russian
English
Tagalog
French
Turkish

Additionally, our staff is sensitive to many diverse cultural traditions, faith based gender sensitivities and ethnic differences.

South Bay Vascular Center is a community based surgical practice operating at the forefront of vascular medicine. Our physicians provide unmatched medical care by providing the best possible outcomes in the most difficult of circumstances. In our private, nationally accredited state of the art ambulatory surgery center and vascular ultrasonography laboratory we treat each and every patient with the utmost of respect allowing them to maintain their dignity in difficult times

Large medical systems, often referred to as “Big Box” medicine, are an operationally efficient and a very profitable way to practice medicine but delivering exceptional care is difficult as the underlying drivers are often constrained by larger “business” decisions instead of what’s in the best interest of the patient. At South Bay Vascular, we operate with a care philosophy wholly different than big box medicine and as such, provide an unmatched level of care not found anywhere else in the region.

A multi-cultural approach to providing exceptional vascular care is just one of the many ways that the physicians and staff at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute strive to be the best at what we do. Together with providing the most sophisticated medical care we deliver exceptional patient care in the most difficult of circumstances.

If you our anyone else that you know suffers from problems in any part of their circulatory system, call us today to learn how we can help.

HOW CAN A SWOLLEN LEG BE RELATED TO CANCER?

Posted on June 12, 2017May 18, 2020 by Angelica Rodezno

How Can A Swollen Leg Be Related To Cancer? Many people know that leg swelling is a normal part of pregnancy. Or that if your heart or kidneys are not working properly, then fluid can “back up “ into your legs and cause swelling. Unfortunately, one problem that most people do not associate with leg swelling is cancer. This is unfortunate, because many people have leg swelling, most specifically an unprovoked deep venous thrombosis causing that swelling, as the first sign of their cancer. What does that mean?

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT), or a blood clot in one of the deep veins in the leg, is very common in the United States. This usually presents as unilateral leg (when only one leg swells) swelling, especially of the calf and ankle. As many as 900,000 people a year are diagnosed with a DVT and about 100,000 of them DIE of either the DVT or a pulmonary embolus (PE). A pulmonary embolus is when the blood clot travels to the lung and causes the death of a part of the lung. Most of the time, a DVT is provoked, or has a cause. Common reasons for a DVT include long car or plane rides, having orthopedic or other surgery, being on bedrest or being very sedentary, being on birth control pills, or having unusual proteins in the blood that cause one to clot more easily.

Sometimes, however, a patient develops a blood clot without having a history of one of these things. When that happens, it is VERY important to be worked up for the possibility of a hidden cancer. This is because studies have shown that if someone develops a DVT with none of the “normal” risk factors, the chance of diagnosing cancer in that patient is one in ten in the first year after the DVT.

It is therefore very important that if you are told you have a DVT, that you be screened for cancer. This can be done simply with a thorough history and physical, some lab work, and possibly some Xrays, depending on your history. It is important NOT to just go to the urgent care, be told you have a blood clot, and just take your blood thinners. Please go see a vascular surgeon who can both manage the medication for you blood clot, follow it up with ultrasounds, and do the proper work-up to ensure that it is not the sign of something bad.
South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Center specializes in the treatment of DVT and Swollen Legs. If you or anyone you know suffers from blood clots (DVT’s) or swollen legs, please call our office to schedule a consultation at 408-376-3626