Category: Blog

HOW CAN A SWOLLEN LEG BE RELATED TO CANCER?

Posted on 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

DON’T SUFFER FROM SWOLLEN LEGS OR NON-HEALING LEG ULCERS ANY LONGER. WE CAN HELP!!

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

The sequence of photos below shows the before and after pictures of an 87 year old man who had seen multiple doctors over a 3-4 months period of time for his severe right leg swelling. This was not only causing him discomfort, but caused him to fall because of the imbalance it led to. He was found on a regular venous ultrasound in our accredited vascular lab to have abnormal flow in his right iliac vein.

The next day, we took him to our Campbell angiography suite for a 45 minute outpatient procedure. There, using both venography (injection of contrast into the vein through a small straw like catheter in the groin) and IVUS (intra-vascular ultrasound) we diagnosed a scarred and blocked right iliac vein system. This was easily treated with a stent and balloon.

Unfortunately, this was found to be a result of a combination of radiation treatment the patient had received 20 years before for his prostate cancer as well as because of a return of his cancer. This tumor (seen on CT scan) was surrounding his vein. When he came back five days later for a check, his right leg swelling was gone as was his leg heaviness and aching.

Please note, compression of the iliac vein usually (80%) occurs on the left. Often, if leg swelling occurs on the right, it may be a sign of a tumor or mass pushing on the vein in the abdomen.

Patient with right lower leg swelling before procedure

Inserting a wire into the diseased vessel. Notice the light colored area where no blood was flowing.

Opening the diseased vessel using a “balloon”.

Placing a stent in to the opened vessel to maintain blood flow. Notice how even blood flows through the opened vessel

Patient 5 days after surgery with leg swelling almost completely resolved

If you or anyone you know suffers from lower leg swelling, call us today to set up a consultation to evaluate your treatment options.

408-376-3626

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute

SAN JOSE’S BEST VARICOSE VEIN DOCTOR

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

San Jose’s most advanced vein treatment center, South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute invites 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.

Actual patients from our practice.

Before After

Before After

Before After

Before After

VEINS, VEINS, VEINS…VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT IN SAN JOSE

Posted on by admin

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is Northern California’s #1 varicose vein treatment center and vein repair clinic. Our ABMS board certified vascular surgeons have performed more successful varicose vein procedures than any other physicians in the region and are the best trained vein specialists in the area. Every vascular surgeon at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute has completed a board eligible fellowship training program in both general as well as vascular surgery and has been trained to both identify and to treat any level of venous disease.

Unlike interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists, phlebologist’s and dermatologists who perform varicose vein procedures to supplement the income from their primary speciality, VASCULAR SURGEONS have spent their entire careers treating diseases of the circulatory system. They spend all their time diagnosing and treating any venous and/or arterial abnormalities. More importantly, when the problem is more than a simple cosmetic issue (most commonly experienced as leg swelling or aching) the vascular surgeons of South Bay Vascular Center are the ones to take care of it. They have the most advanced ultrasound testing facility, angiography suite and screening protocols in the entire region to help diagnose deeper systemic circulatory diseases such as DVT’s (blood clots) and iliac vein compression.

Many of the patients who visit our clinic find us after their vein treatments at other “Vein Speciality” clinics fail to help them achieve their desired outcomes. Unfortunately, many of these same patients tell us they were led to believe that varicose vein surgery is a relatively easy procedure and can be performed by any level of licensed physician after a basic course in cosmetic vein treatment modalities.

Having served the South Bay for over 20 years, Dr. Kokinos and the staff of South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute have performed over 20,000 successful Varicose vein procedures. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Kokinos is recognized nationally as an expert in the treatment of varicose veins, peripheral arterial disease, chronic limb ischemia and iliac vein compression. Together with her partner, Dr. Carlos E Pineda, Dr. Kokinos is proud to bring this level of care and experience to every one of her patients and is honored to be entrusted with the care and treatment of them.

Understand your treatment options. Ask your “Vein Specialist” about what happens if you have a complication with your procedure. Ask your provider if they have “Admitting privileges” at the local hospital in the event something goes wrong during the procedure and what their plan is if their procedure fails. Most importantly, check the primary board speciality of your varicose vein “specialist”. If it isn’t vascular surgery, there is someone more qualified and better trained to perform the procedure.

Remember, these are your legs. You deserve the best..and you deserve to “Love Your Legs Again”.

CALL US AT SOUTH BAY VASCULAR CENTER AND VEIN INSTITUTE.

408-376-3626

LEG SWELLING: BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS FOLLOWING THE PLACEMENT OF AN ILIAC VEIN STENT

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Photos of patient who had suffered with right leg swelling for three months before coming to see us. The patient was found to have a problem with their right iliac vein (in the pelvis) that we easily treated with a 45 minute outpatient procedure placing a stent in the vein through a small puncture in their groin. Five days later, his swelling was almost completely gone.

If you have had painful or annoying one-sided leg swelling we may be able to help. Call us today for a consultation at 408-376-3626. South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is the regional leader in treating leg swelling due to iliac vein compression.

DR. KOKINOS CHOSEN TO PRESENT AT 2017 OEIS MEETING

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Dr. Kokinos was selected as a speaker at this years OEIS (Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society)meeting that will be held March 31- April 2 in San Diego California. Dr Kokinos will be presenting her expertise in the establishment and operation of cutting edge outpatient treatment facilities.

Congratulations Dr. Kokinos on this honor.

Dr. Polyxene Kokinos and her partner, Dr. Carlos E Pineda of South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, operate San Jose’s leading center for the treatment of Varicose Veins. As a Board Certified Vascular and General Surgeon, Dr. Kokinos is recognized by her peers as the one of the countries leading experts on the treatment of deep venous disease and is frequently sought out as a speaker. South Bay Vascular specializes in treating peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and is the regional center of excellence for amputation prevention.

If you or anyone you know suffers from unsightly and painful varicose veins, peripheral arterial disease, non-healing wounds or is facing a diabetic amputation, please call our office at 408-376-3626 to schedule a consultation. WE CAN HELP!

DR. KOKINOS SELECTED TO SPEAK AT 2017 UCSF VASCULAR SYMPOSIUM

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Dr. Kokinos is honored to be a featured speaker at this years world renown UCSF Vascular Symposium. Dr. Kokinos will present her on-going research on the treatment of venous ulcers. This years session will be presented on April 6, 2017 in San Francisco, CA. Congratulation’s Dr. Kokinos on your selection as a speaker.

Dr. Kokinos is a Board Certified Vascular and General Surgeon and is the medical director of the wound care clinics at Verity’s O’Connor Hospital in San Jose and St. Louise Hospital in San Martin Ca. Together with her partner, Dr. Carlos Pineda, Dr. Kokinos operates the leading varicose vein treatment center in Northern California and has provided specialized vein care treatment and repair for over 20 years. Recognized as the leading Vein Specialist and Varicose Vein Doctor in Northern California, Dr. Kokinos is known as the Doctor’s Doctor and is honored to work alongside her patients to help them return to a healthy and normal lifestyle.

DR. KOKINOS HONORED AS A SPEAKER AT THE 2017 AMERICAN VENOUS FORUM

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Dr. Kokinos was recently honored at the American Venous Forum in New Orleans as a expert on the treatment of deep venous disease. Her groundbreaking research on the Correlation of Transabdominal Ultrasound with IVUS in Diagnosing Iliac Vein Stenosis adds to the growing body of medical literature in the evolving field of deep venous pathology and treatment. Congratulations Dr. Kokinos on your recent honor.

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR PATIENTS

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

Improving the lives of our patients is the foundation of everything that we do. In pursuit of this goal we strive to provide the most advanced vascular treatments available and to care for our patients in a compassionate and respectful manner.

At South Bay Vascular Center, we give our patients hope when others say there is none. By providing the most advanced vascular care available in our own state of the art angiography suite, South Bay Vascular has grown into the leading center for amputation prevention in Northern California. When other physicians say an amputation is necessary, our physicians perform diagnostic testing few, if any other centers in the area can provide. As a result, our physicians save more legs than any other doctors in the region.

Dr. Kokinos and Dr. Pineda perform more lower leg re-vascularization procedures than any other vascular surgeons in the area. Each year we save hundreds of patients from below knee and above knee amputations by performing specialized procedures that few other surgeons in the area are trained to perform.

Additionally, we work tirelessly to spread the word that patients facing amputation should always ask what else can be done to save their limb before going ahead with their amputations. Our goal is to educate anyone being told they need an amputation that they need a second opinion from a board certified Vascular Surgeon. When their doctors can’t answer the simple question of what does the inside of their artery look like, it’s time to ask for a second opinion.

 

But we can’t do this alone! We need everyone’s help to spread this message. There is hope for many patients facing diabetic amputation but, every week we see patients who have tragically already undergone an amputation without getting an informed second opinion from a Vascular Surgeon. For these patients, it’s too late.

We invite everyone to use the immense power of the social network to help spread the word that there is Hope for many of these patients. Reach out to everyone you know and let them know that if they or anyone they known is facing a potential lower limb amputation they need to call our office for a second opinion.

Our goal is to stop unnecessary amputations. Please Help!

Spread the word to everyone you know. Like us on Facebook, tweet this message to your friends, share this story over a drink… snap chat and Instagram the message that the physicians and staff at South Bay Vascular can Help!

Call us at 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment or visit our website www.southbayvascular.com to learn more about what can be done to stop unnecessary amputations. Join us today and

Take A Stand Against Amputation!!