The contemporary treatment of many cancers over the past 30 years has resulted in impressive progress in the cure or remission of these diseases.  However, for nearly 150 years, physicians have known that many cancers predispose a patient to develop … Continue reading →

The often devastating consequences of having a blood clot in a major vein demands the need to explore safe and effective treatment strategies.   We now know that in our bodies there is a constant, but normal, battle between blood clots … Continue reading →

Almost thirty years of cardiovascular surgical training and practice has allowed me to witness and achieve significant improvements in medical treatments, outcomes and reduction of procedure risks. However, I still think the risks of using the powerful blood thinner warfarin … Continue reading →

Clinical and pharmacologic research have combined to make it feasible to now treat significant medical conditions, like blood clots in the leg, outside of the hospital setting…in other words, at home! In 1996, the New England Journal of Medicine published … Continue reading →

Despite 20 years of cardiovascular surgery practice, I had been uncertain of how to best answer my patient’s question…until now. There is increasing evidence that we can tailor blood thinning medication treatment for an individual patient who has had a … Continue reading →

There has been much concern about the risks of blood clots developing in either arteries or veins and the use of hormonal contraceptive pills. These risks are frequently a topic of conversation that patients bring up. I thought a quick … Continue reading →

Phlebitis is a term used to describe inflammation of a vein anywhere in the body. Often, phlebitis is manifest by an exquisitely tender, red and throbbing localized area of inflammation of the leg or arm. In the United States population, … Continue reading →

Economy Class Syndrome, Traveler’s Thrombosis, Venous Thromboembolism…These phrases are increasingly recognized by the world’s traveler but can be misleading and are not new ideas. In fact, an association of blood clots forming in leg veins and air travel was first reported in 1954 by often quoted Boston surgeon John Homans, MD (1). Continue reading →

“Restless Legs Syndrome” is a poorly understood but common patient complaint . In this disorder patients experience intense, unpleasant sensations in their legs and urges to move the legs in an effort to relieve these sensations. Continue reading →

Pelvic pain is a common and distressing complaint among women of childbearing age. While there are quite a few established causes for pelvic pain in this age group, Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) is a specific diagnosis that is related to engorgement of veins within the pelvis. Continue reading →