Tag: PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE

YOU HAVE A BLOOD CLOT. NOW WHAT?

Posted on 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!

TRANSCAROTID ARTERY REVASCULARIZATION: THE FUTURE OF CAROTID SURGERY

Posted on by Michael Kokinos

One of the most gratifying problems we help treat for patients is carotid artery disease.  The carotid arteries supply the brain with blood.  In patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and a history of smoking, the carotid arteries can become narrowed and form blood clots that then go into the brain and cause strokes.  Traditionally, vascular surgeons have fixed this carotid artery narrowing’s with a surgery called a carotid endarterectomy.  The carotid artery is dissected out and cut open.  The plaque is then removed, and the carotid artery is sewn back together.

Over the past five years, however, I have had the opportunity to perform a new technique involving carotid stenting called trans carotid artery revascularization or TCAR.  Stents are self-expanding metal tubes that we can use in the carotid artery to stop clots from forming in narrowed areas.  TCAR uses a suction machine to reverse flow in the carotid artery during the placement of a stent to minimize the risk of inadvertent stroke during the procedure itself.  After having performed over 20 of these procedures in the past two years, I can say with confidence that the flow reversal and stenting that TCAR provides is a highly safe and successful way to treat carotid artery disease.  Furthermore, the length of the incision, postoperative pain, and risk of nerve damage and bleeding are all much less with TCAR than with CEA.

I am so happy to be able to offer this revolutionary, safe, and effective therapy to all my patients at South Bay Vascular Center.  Should you or anyone you know have any problems with your carotid arteries or a stroke, please do not hesitate to call us today at 408-376-3626 to schedule a consultation.

https://youtu.be/O32nDoovMPY]

ONE PATIENT, ONE DOCTOR, ONE NURSE; SOUTH BAY VASCULAR CENTER’S COMMITMENT TO PERSONALIZED CARE

Posted on by Michael Kokinos

Unlike so many big box medical centers (Kaiser, Sutter, PAMF, Stanford) where patients are often “overwhelmed” as soon as they get to the parking lot, South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute offers world class, cutting edge vascular surgical care in a kinder, gentler environment.  Individualized patient care, although talked about and marketed heavily by these corporate health systems, more often than not falls far short of patient expectations as higher order operational efficiencies and profitability concerns impact the kind of care patients actually experience in these larger health care systems.

ONE PATIENT; ONE DOCTOR; ONE NURSE. 

Putting patients at the center of everything that a physician does is a philosophy that sounds obvious…but is that always the case? At South Bay Vascular Center we are honored by the chance to earn your trust and to serve as your physicians; BUT, we also know that we must EARN the trust of every patient that we see.  That’s why our CREDENTIALS are NOT Enough…That’s why our REPUTATION is NOT enough. That’s why unmatched patient care is at the center of everything that we do. That’s why when patients come to our facility for a procedure each patient has their own nurse from start to finish to ensure the greatest patient care experience from start to finish. 

We know patients have options for their vascular care and that’s why we work hard to ensure that any patient referred to us by another doctor or that comes to us on their own has the confidence to know they’ve made the right choice of doctor to help them with their vascular related illnesses. ONE PATIENT; ONE DOCTOR; ONE NURSE is just one of the many ways that South Bay Vascular Center demonstrates our commitment to our patients in our efforts to provide the most advanced vascular care options offered anywhere in the world.

OUR TEAM

Together with her full time, highly skilled team of critical care and surgical nurses, radiological technicians, RVT certified Ultrasound Technologists and scrub assistants, Dr Kokinos provides unmatched peripheral vascular surgical care in her Nationally Accredited Surgical Facility. As diverse as Silicon Valley is, our staff reflects this same diversity as we have native speaking staff fluent in over 10 different languages. Be it Vietnamese, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Hindi, Spanish, French, Greek or English, we have staff to make our patients comfortable in their native tongue.

OUR FACILITY

The South Bay Vascular Ambulatory Surgery facility is one dedicated entirely to the practice of Vascular Surgery and houses a specialized inventory of vascular medical devices and imaging equipment that surpasses the number of vascular medical devices and imaging equipment at Good Samaritan and O’Connor Hospitals combined. Together with her highly trained and specialized team, Dr Kokinos brings over 30 years of surgical experience and 7 years of specialized surgical experience operating in a specially built vascular surgery outpatient facility to her patients.  Other physicians may claim to have the kind of training and experience that Dr Kokinos has in the outpatient environment, but NO other Vascular Surgeon in Silicon Valley comes anywhere close to having the kind of experience and outcomes Dr Kokinos does when it comes to providing care to the patients who come to her for the treatments and care of their vascular disease.

Put another way, for 25 years Dr Kokinos and her team at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute have provided unmatched, compassionate and individualized vascular surgical care to South Bay communities. It is why more independent physicians refer their vascular patients to Dr Kokinos than to all the other Silicon Valley vascular surgeons combined. When it comes to your health, we know that it’s not just our credentials and our experience that count.  It’s not about just having an accredited facility or a staff of travelling specialists to help when needed…   It’s about the RIGHT KIND OF EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME YOU NEED IT.

RESULTS matter when it comes to your health because sometimes you don’t get a second chance.

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

Call us at 408-376-3626. We Can Help

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

Posted on 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

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

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.

 

 

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

Posted on 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

FACTS ABOUT PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (PAD) FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

One in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has P.A.D., a condition that raises the risk for heart attack and stroke. Peripheral arterial disease, or P.A.D., develops when your arteries become clogged with plaque—fatty deposits that limit blood flow to your limbs, especially your legs. Just like clogged arteries in the heart, clogged arteries in the legs mean you are at risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

P.A.D. is more common in African Americans than any other racial or ethnic group. This may be in part because some of the conditions that raise the risk for developing P.A.D., such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are more common among African Americans.

The following article written by the US Department of Health and Human Services provides an exceptional overview of their ongoing research and findings about PAD in the African American Community. We encourage any of our patients interested in learning more about how PAD impacts this community group to click on the following link.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/pad_extfactsheet_aa_508.pdf

Dr. Polly G Kokinos, a board certified Vascular and General Surgeon in Campbell, CA. is recognized as one of the regions foremost authorities in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. With offices in both Campbell and Gilroy, CA. Dr. Kokinos has dedicated her 24 year career to serving the South County community as a Vascular Surgeon and is a pioneer in the evaluation and treatment of patients suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Unlike other Vascular Surgeons in the region who do their work at a local hospital or in shared facilities, Dr. Kokinos’ does her surgeries in a private, nationally accredited Vascular Surgery Center of Excellence. She focuses entirely on treating patients suffering from complex vascular disorders and unlike a traditional hospital she has the most advanced imaging and device technology available anywhere in the world. Most importantly, unlike a University or community hospitals, Dr. Kokinos’ patients experience the individualized care of “One Patient, One Doctor and One Nurse” rather than the cold, informal “production” environment of a typical hospital.

If you or anyone you love suffers from any of the conditions listed above, please call our office at 408-376-3626 or contact us to schedule an appointment. Most insurances are accepted and our staff typically can schedule an appointment within a few days for an initial consultation and non-invasive vascular ultrasound study. All ultrasound testing is done in our on-site Vascular Ultrasound Lab, The Institute for Vascular Testing making it significantly easier for our patients to be fully evaluated in a single visit and in a single facility.

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

DOES YOUR PATIENT HAVE PAD? A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR PHYSICIANS

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Does Your Patient Have PAD? A Reference Guide for Physicians

Know the Facts about Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 18 million people in the United States suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. Although estimates suggest that anywhere from 12 to 20 percent of individuals over the age of 60 are living with PAD, most Americans remain unaware of PAD symptoms.

Unfortunately, as many as 180,000 Americans will undergo a limb amputation as result of PAD-related condition this year. But amputation is not the only answer! Identifying arterial disease early may improve a patient’s quality of life and allow early medical and surgical interventions to lower the risk of critical limb ischemia and amputation.

As a physician, you are your patients’ first line of defense. So it is critically important to be on the lookout for typical symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease, which can include:

  • Leg pain with walking
  • Numbness in the toes
  • Wounds on the toes or feet
  • Gangrene

Individuals with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes are at greatest risk for PAD. Anyone who has suffered from diabetes for over 15 years should be evaluated by a vascular surgeon.

The Importance of Early Detection and Proper Diagnosis

Dr. Polly G. Kokinos, a board-certified Vascular and General Surgeon in Campbell, CA, is recognized as one of the region’s foremost authorities in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. Dr. Kokinos has dedicated her entire career to serving the South Bay community as an independent physician and a pioneer in the treatment of patients suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Early detection and treatment are critical to controlling the disease and allowing patients a full selection of treatment options. In an effort to help front line doctors better evaluate and diagnose PAD, Dr. Kokinos has given many lectures to primary care physicians, internists, podiatrists, and orthopedic surgeons about the management of lower extremity arterial and venous disease and the signs and symptoms to look for.

Due to the complex nature of vascular disease, an evidence-based multidisciplinary approach is essential to early assessment, proper diagnosis, and optimal treatment.

How Treatment for PAD Has Changed

Over the past 15 years, the interventional treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has changed significantly. Minimally invasive endovascular procedures have replaced many traditional surgical procedures as the dominant intervention.

More recently, pedal access techniques, which access the blocked area from the toe instead of a traditional access point in the patient’s groin, have shown, in certain instances, to be significantly more successful than earlier methods of revascularizing the impacted area. Because Dr. Kokinos has performed more pedal access approach procedures than anyone in Northern California, she can provide patients with more options for treating their disease.

Other treatment options for PAD include medical management, exercise and lifestyle modifications, and surgical bypass amputation (when absolutely necessary).

South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute: Designed for PAD Treatment

Founded by Dr. Polly Kokinos, South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute is a nationally accredited Vascular Surgery Center of Excellence. Unlike traditional hospital operating rooms, this state-of-the-art facility in Campbell, CA was specifically designed as a PAD intervention and treatment facility.

At South Bay Vascular, physicians leverage advanced technology (including Ziehm C-Arms with Flat Panel Detectors and Phillips Intra Vascular Ultrasound imaging systems) to provide the most advanced surgical techniques available in this area.

With a vast inventory of specialized medical devices not found in traditional operating rooms, South Bay Vascular’s surgeons can perform advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedures to provide the best possible outcomes in the most difficult circumstances.

If you suspect any of your patients may have symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease or other complex vascular or arterial issues, we would be honored to meet with them to discuss their symptoms. Please refer them to South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute (with offices in Campbell and Gilroy, CA) or call 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment.

For more information, go to southbayvascular.com.

PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (PAD); EARLY RECOGNITION AND REFERRAL TO A VASCULAR SURGEON

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 18 million people in the United States suffer from Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. Estimates suggest that anywhere from 12 to 20 percent of individuals over the age of 60 are living with PAD. Approximately 160,000 to 180,000 of the estimated 18 million Americans with PAD will undergo a limb amputation as result of PAD-related condition this year, resulting in lower quality of life, high medical costs, and shorter life expectancy.

But even with these alarming numbers, APPROXIMATELY 3 OUT OF 4 AMERICANS are unaware of PAD Symptoms.

Severe PAD symptoms include:

  • Leg pain,
  • Wounds on the toes or feet,
  • Gangrene and
  • A loss of leg mass compared to the rest of the body.
  • Individuals are at greatest risk for PAD if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

Dr. Polly G Kokinos, a board certified Vascular and General Surgeon in Campbell, CA. is recognized as one of the regions foremost authorities in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. With offices in both Campbell and Gilroy, CA. Dr Kokinos has dedicated her entire career to serving the South County community as an independent physician and as a pioneer in the evaluation and treatment of patients suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Unburdened by the productivity metrics, financial benchmarks and administrative red tape commonly found in Big Box Medical Systems, Dr. Kokinos has focused her entire career on providing exceptional vascular care building her practice one patient at a time. Her Campbell Surgery center, a nationally accredited Vascular Surgery Center of Excellence, is entirely dedicated to treating patients suffering from complex vascular surgical disorders. Unlike a traditional hospital or university operating room, Dr. Kokinos’ surgery center is entirely dedicated to addressing vascular issues ensuring that she has the most advanced imaging and device technology available anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, even with all of her skill experience and technology, many patients don’t find Dr. Kokinos until its too late. Many patients go under diagnosed or undiagnosed until it is too late and their medical condition has declined to the point where no one can help. In this circumstance patients lose limbs, suffer unnecessarily and become an incredible burden on their family and loved ones. In the worst cases, patients can die if their leg wounds are left untreated.

In an effort to help front line medical doctors better evaluate and diagnose peripheral arterial disease Dr. Kokinos has spoken extensively to the Primary Community Care Team (Internists, Podiatrists, Orthopaedic Surgeons) in the management of lower extremity arterial and venous disease. As is the case in most instances, early detection of peripheral arterial disease has a dramatic impact on the success of any future treatments.

Bridging this educational gap was the topic of a recent talk Dr. Kokinos was honored to give in March of 2020 to a group of Northern California primary care physicians. The focus of this talk was to help primary care and referring physicians better understand the etiology (the cause of a disease or condition) its diagnosis, management, and referral strategies for peripheral arterial and venous disease.

The key takeaways from her talk are outlined below:

  • Prevalence of PAD and Venous Disease have reached epidemic proportions.
  • Peripheral Arterial and Venous Disease are both associated with high rates of disability and death.
  • Identifying arterial disease early may improve a patients quality of life and allow early medical and surgical interventions to lower the risk of critical limb ischemia and amputation.
  • Identifying venous disease can greatly improve a patients quality of live and lower their risk of dying from this disease.
  • Despite greater awareness, PAD and Venous disease are still under-recognized and under treated.
  • Due to the complex nature of vascular disease, an evidence-based multidisciplinary approach is essential to early assessment, proper diagnosis and optimal treatment
  • Minimally invasive endovascular techniques now enable vascular surgeons to treat significantly higher numbers of patients with a lower complication and death rate
  • Appropriate referrals to specialists must be emphasized if physicians are to continue to improve the lives of patients with PAD

Her underlying message to the audience was that primary care physicians are a patients first line of defense. Helping patients achieve better outcomes requires early recognition and management on the part of the primary care physician and that early referral to a vascular surgeon is essential to the successful outcome of advanced treatments.

If you or anyone you love suffers from any of the symptoms outlined in this blog, we would be honored to speak with them to discuss their symptoms. Call Dr. Kokinos’ office at South Bay Vascular Center to schedule an appointment at 408-376-3626.

DR. POLYXENE KOKINOS…AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY VASCULAR SURGEON SERVING SOUTH BAY RESIDENTS FOR 24 YEARS

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

For 24 years, Dr. Polyxene (Polly) Kokinos has worked in the greater San Francisco Bay Area community as an independent vascular surgeon, dedicating her time to serving patients suffering from vascular disease.

With offices in both Campbell, CA and Gilroy, CA Dr. Kokinos has worked with over 25,000 patients helping them as they suffer from circulatory illnesses and the impact of their disease. From the most delicate to the most complex surgical care, Dr. Kokinos’ and her staff have remained independent community physicians, offering patients an alternative to the “Big Box” medical systems of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda Counties (Kaiser, PAMF, Sutter, Stanford) by offering unmatched personalized care and innovative surgical techniques to advance the care and treatment of her patients.

“We offer hope when others say there is none” is more than a simple message crafted by a marketing agent. It is at the core of everything we do and is the reason why we our facility operates in the most personal way available…

One Patient, One Doctor, One Nurse

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, located in Campbell, CA is the only fully accredited privately owned state of surgery center in the South Bay dedicated entirely to the practice of Vascular Surgery. Here, Dr. Kokinos provides unmatched vascular surgical care using cutting edge imaging and device technology that no other vascular surgeon or institution in the area can offer as she continues her pioneering work in the treatment of vascular disease.

Recognized by her peers as a national expert in the care of complex vascular disease, Dr. Kokinos is highly sought after as a speaker at national and international vascular surgical conferences and educational symposia. On March 4 2020 as part of her ongoing commitment to her community, Dr. Kokinos spoke in San Mateo, CA. addressing a large group of her peers as an invited guest of Global Education Group and Educational Awareness Solutions under a grant from Philips Image Guided Therapy. Her topic was “The Essential Role of the Primary Community Care Team in the Management of Lower Extremity Arterial and Venous Disease”

Her talk focused on Vascular diseases, “Including peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and venous thromboembolism and their prevalence in the US. When unrecognized or inadequately treated, these disorders may be life threatening and disabling. The therapeutic an diagnostic landscape for vascular conditions is rapidly evolving; yet there remains an unmet need for more awareness among healthcare professionals and patients.” As a recognized expert in her field, Dr. Kokinos was asked to address these topics with her peers, offering solutions and answering questions and was honored to present at this event.

As an independent community surgeon, Dr Kokinos isn’t forced to achieve the “productivity” targets or revenue targets that are by design a part of “Big Box” Medicine. Her practice has always been one of service to her community and as such continues taking emergency vascular call at Good Samaritan Hospital, O’Connor and El Camino Hospital’s in the Silicon Valley. She has served as the chair of vascular surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, Headed the wound care clinic at Good Samaritan, O’Connor and St Louis hospitals and continues to treat patients at the O’Connor Wound Care Clinic.

As an independent community physician Dr. Kokinos focuses her work on providing cutting edge care in the treatment of the most difficult vascular problems. Free from “corporate” medicine Dr Kokinos’ practice is dedicated to finding the “Why” you are suffering so that you have “real” solutions to living a healthy life. At South Bay Vascular, our first job is to listen. We take the time to fully understand your symptoms so that we can provide the best possible solutions to get your legs and your life back…and that’s what she has been doing for over 24 years.

Unlike Big Box medical practices where doctors see the patients on their “list” every morning, Dr. Kokinos must earn the trust and respect of everyone she sees. She’s knows each and every one of her patients by name and everyone who comes in to see Dr. Kokinos gets her cell phone to call if they ever have a problem. It’s what she does and what she’s always done, building her practice patient by patient, referring physician by referring physician for the past 24 years.

If you or anyone you love suffers from vascular disease, we would be honored to meet with you to discuss your symptoms. Please call our office at 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment.

PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE (PVD)

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Peripheral vascular disease, sometimes referred to as PVD, in the legs or lower extremities is the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs.

Dr. Polyxene G Kokinos, founder of San Jose’s South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is a board certified general and vascular surgeon who specializes in treating patients who suffer from this condition. For 24 years, Dr. Kokinos has dedicated her practice to helping South Bay patients regain their circulatory health by bringing advanced surgical solutions to complex vascular problems. Having treated over 20,000 Varicose Vein patients, Dr. Kokinos understands both the aesthetic as well as the complex side of her field and is recognized one of the regions most respected surgeons.

Recent advances in both imaging and medical device technology has revolutionized the practice of Vascular Surgery. Of particular interest to Dr. Kokinos is treating vessels in the deep venous systems, as well as the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Having performed hundreds of these procedures, Dr. Kokinos has found that many of her patients, being properly treated and educated are able to make great strides to regaining their health and quality of life.

Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a patient educational bulletin that Dr. Kokinos shares with her patients as part of re-educating them to live a healthier life and to recognize the symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease. As part of her continuing efforts to educate her patients, she wanted to share this handout, written and published by the CDC for patients following her blog to read.

Please click on the link below to receive this CDC authored bulletin in the hopes that you too can begin to live a healthier life and become aware of the signs of peripheral vascular disease.

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/pad.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fdhdsp%2Fdata_statistics%2Ffact_sheets%2Ffs_pad.htm

If you or anyone you know suffers from peripheral vascular disease call today to schedule an appointment at 408-376-3626.