Tag: PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE

DR. KOKINOS SELECTED TO PRESENT AT THE AMERICAN VENOUS FORUM

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Dr. Kokinos will be presenting an abstract on her clinical research regarding iliac vein compression at the national American Venous Forum in New Orleans early next year. This meeting is the largest venous meeting of the year, and is sponsored by the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Kokinos has been recognized nationally as an expert on May-Thurner’s Syndrome, or iliac vein compession. This problem can cause symptoms of (predominantly) left leg swelling, heaviness, aching, deep venous clots, and non-healing ankle or leg wounds. She has performed more intravascular ultrasound exams and stents of the deep venous system than any other doctor on the West Coast in the last year. She will be presenting her clinical research on using regular ultrasound, done by the specially trained registered vascular technologists in the ICAVL accredited Institute for Vascular Testing to diagnose this fairly common but widely underdiagnosed issue. Previously, patients needed to get CT scans which used significant amounts of radiation and contrast for the diagnosis. This problem is not only seen because of a common anatomic situation, but also often as a result of an undiagnosed blood clot (DVT) in the iliac or femoral vein after orthopedic, back, or gynecologic surgery.

If you have one leg that is more swollen or painful than then other, or have had a leg blood clot in the past, please call us at 408-376-3626 or visit us at www.southbayvascular.com.

SOUTH BAY VASCULAR CENTER IS “TAKING A STAND AGAINST AMPUTATION”

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

18 Million Americans Suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Left untreated, PAD can lead to amputation. Each year 160,000 amputations are performed as a result of peripheral arterial disease.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is Taking A Stand Against Amputation. Dr. Pineda and Dr. Kokinos recently attended the “Advanced Orbital Atherectomy Course in the Treatment of Complex PAD Below the Knee” at Metro Health Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This course was led by Dr. Jihad Mustapha, a thought leader in the field of critical limb ischemia. The techniques included using alternate access sites (using the arteries at the ankle and foot for access), instead of using the traditional groin site. The course also included treatment of arteries in the foot, with the main goal being on limb preservation and amputation prevention. To date, Dr.’s Kokinos and Pineda have performed more procedures using pedal access than any other surgeons in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and are recognized as leaders in this area.

The practices expounded by Dr. Mustapha and his team are the same techniques and principles the vascular surgeons at South Bay Vascular use in their care and treatment of PAD. These include: identification and aggressive medical management of risk factors, minimally invasive interventions when indicated, and continued surveillance to detect issues before they become clinically apparent.

At South Bay Vascular, we do use alternate sites frequently, and by using this approach, decrease the rate of groin complications and the length of time that the patient has to remain flat after a procedure. Furthermore, with our growing population of diabetics and patients with kidney disease, we are better equipped to manage critical limb ischemia and prevent amputations. This course is in support of our focus on taking care of patients at risk of losing a limb.

If you or a loved one is diabetic, has kidney disease (is on dialysis), or has been told they need an amputation, please contact us for a consultation with one of our surgeons and together we will Take A Stand Against Amputation.

DR. KOKINOS APPOINTED AS NEW WOUND CARE DIRECTOR AT O’CONNOR AND ST. LOUISE HOSPITALS

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Polyxene Kokinos MD, a Board Certified Vascular and General Surgeon of South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute was named today as the new medical director of the O’Connor and St. Louise Hospital’s wound care clinics. Dr. Kokinos brings over 25 years of vascular surgery experience to her new position as medical director and is recognized as a national expert in the treatment of peripheral vascular and arterial disease. Dr. Kokinos has a special interest in the treatment of lower extremity and deep venous disease and is recognized as one of the country’s leading experts in this area. Currently, Dr. Kokinos serves as the Chairman of the Cardio Vascular department at Good Samaritan hospital in San Jose. and is honored to accept her new medical directorship at O’Connor and St Louise hospitals.

Highly sought after as a speaker, over the past 4 months Dr. Kokinos has presented her research in deep venous disease at the OEIS national meeting in Miami, Fl.; Western Vascular Society in Colorado Springs, Co; Northern California Vascular Vascular in San Francisco, CA.; and has recently accepted an invitation to speak at the nations largest gathering of Vascular Surgeons at the American Venous Form of the Society for Vascular Surgeons scheduled for New Orleans, Louisiana in Feb of 2017.

Together with her Vascular Surgeon Partner, Dr. Carlos E. Pineda, Dr. Kokinos is excited to expand the current wound care practices at O’Connor and St. Louise Wound Care Clinics to include a specific focus on Chronic Limb Ischemia and Limb Salvage. To this extent, her experience using intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) to help diagnose and to treat deep venous disease, together with her experience delivering state of the art minimally invasive treatments for deep venous disease promises to be an exciting time as she works to transform these regional wound care clinics into world class centers of excellence.

Congratulations Dr. Kokinos on this new appointment.

WHAT IS ENDOVENOUS LASER THERAPY?

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLT), a treatment for varicose veins, is an advanced, highly effective treatment for varicose veins. EVLT works by using targeted laser energy to close off problem veins, thus relieving the symptoms and appearance of varicose veins and restoring healthy, attractive legs. This treatment is ideal for large varicose veins, including the greater saphenous veins.

The EVLT™ Procedure is minimally-invasive and virtually pain-free. While surgical vein treatment methods can cause scarring and other side effects, the laser energy used in EVLT minimizes risks and complications. Laser energy is delivered directly to the target vein to shrink the walls, which eventually causes the vein to close. Blood flow is diverted to other, healthy veins, eliminating the varicose vein bulging, discoloration, and pain.

EVLT is performed as an outpatient procedure, usually in less than an hour, with only local anesthesia. This means that recovery time is dramatically reduced. Most patients can resume normal activities immediately following treatment, while enjoying superior clinical and aesthetic results.