Phlebitis requires urgent scanning to prevent DVTs and PEs

At this morning's session at the Indovasc Symposium 2013, Mark Whiteley gave a talk entitled:

Superficial Venous Thrombosis - To Treat or Not?
Mark Whiteley

In the talk, Mark explained how the treatment of "Phlebitis" in the legs has completely changed over the last couple of years.

Until recently, "phlebitis" or superficial venous thrombosis of the leg, was considered to be a benign condition without any risk the patient. As such, doctors and nurses have been used to diagnosing this clinically and then treating with aspirin and graduated pressure stockings-and occasionally those who do not understand the process have used antibiotics.

However recommendations from the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the British Committee for Standards in Haematology in 2012 have produced new guidelines based upon randomised controlled studies that have been performed over the previous 2 to 3 years.

The key points are:

• "Phlebitis" of the legs (superficial venous thrombophlebitis) is associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in a few patients
• Treatment of superficial venous thrombophlebitis of the legs has shown to reduce the extension of clot, reducing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)

Therefore it is now incorrect to diagnose "phlebitis" or superficial venous thrombophlebitis of the legs clinically and treat with aspirin, antibiotics and/or graduated pressure stockings as this will mean any underlying deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is missed and potential clot extension is more likely.

Hence the new recommendations are:

• Anyone thought to have "phlebitis"or superficial venous thrombophlebitis needs to have a venous duplex ultrasound scan as soon as possible
• If a DVT is identified, full anticoagulation needs to be started
• If the clot is in the Great Saphenous Vein and close to the SaphenoFemoral Junction, full anticoagulation needs to be started
• If the clot is less extensive but there are other factors then prophylactic low molecular weight heparin should be given
• For more minor cases proven on venous duplex ultrasound scanning, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets are sufficient

These guidelines show that "phlebitis" of the legs can no longer be treated as a minor condition as this may lead the patient to potentially dangerous deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

Every patient with "phlebitis", or suspected to have "phlebitis", needs to have an urgent venous duplex ultrasound scan arranged and appropriate treatment prescribed upon the scan results.
  

Recurrent Varicose Veins - Keynote Lecture at Indovasc 2013 Bangalore

Today Mark Whiteley gave a Keynote Lecture at the 2nd Indovasc Conference at Bangalore:

 

Causes, Recognition and Treatment of Recurrent Varicose Veins - Mark Whiteley

The splendid setting for the Indovasc Conference 2013 at The Sheraton, Bangalore

Mark went on to give other lectures on different areas of Varicose Veins in which he is an expert:

• Glue is the answer to GSV incompetence - Mark Whiteley
• Should we be treating perforator incompetence at all? - Mark Whiteley
• Pelvic congestion syndromes: clinical assessment, diagnosis - Mark Whiteley 

Fantastic entertainment before the Gala Dinner

The day concluded with some sparkling entertainment before the gala dinner.

Lecturing and operating in Bangalore - Indovasc Workshop

 

Today Mark Whiteley was endovenous workshop course director with Dr Ravi Rajgopalan of the Arizona Heart Hospital, Arizona, USA.

 

Mark lectured on:

•  endovenous laser ablation
•  foam sclerotherapy
•  complications of endovenous surgery - and how to avoid them

Theatre at Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital
Nurses preparing for Mark Whiteley to perform EVLA
on Endovenous Workshop at indovasc 2013

After lunch, Mark Whiteley demonstrated EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) of the Great Saphenous Vein for Varicose Veins under local anaesthetic.

Course Director Endovenous Ablation Course - Indovasc Symposium

Indovasc Symposium 2013
Mark Whiteley Venous Course Director and on Faculty

Mark Whiteley is delighted to be one the course directors for the Endovenous Ablation Course at the Indovasc Symposium in Bangalore on 21st March.

He will be lecturing on 21st March:

• 11:20 - 11:30 - The EVLA Procedure - Mark Whiteley
• 12:10 - 12:20 - Complications and how to avoid them Mark Whiteley

Mark Whiteley and Ravi Rajgopaian
Course Directors of the Endovenous Ablation Course for Varicose Veins 

Then in the main programme, Mark Whiteley will be giving the following lectures:

22nd March:

Keynote Lecture VI
15:00 ‐ 15:10
Causes, recognition and Treatment of Recurrent Varicose Veins - Mark Whiteley

Followed by:

• Glue is the answer to GSV incompetence - Mark Whiteley
• Should we be treating perforator incompetence at all - Mark Whiteley
• Pelvic congestion syndromes: clinical assessment, diagnosis. - Mark Whiteley

23rd March:

• Superficial Venous Thrombosis ‐ to treat or not? - Mark Whiteley

  Indovasc Meeting: http://www.indovascsymposium.org/
Indovasc Endovenous Ablation Course: http://www.indovascsymposium.org/Images/Endovenous%20Workshop.pdf
Indovasc Programme: http://www.indovascsymposium.org/programme.html

Easy Living - Advice on finding a Private Specialist Doctor

Seek out doctors who do research AND
those who spend 5 days a week treating your condition 

Mark Whiteley was featured as one of the Doctors in April's "Easy Living" magazine.

In the article  "What Doctor's only tell their friends" Mark makes 2 suggestions when looking for a specialist doctor:

1] Look for a specialist who is actively involved and doing research. If you want the latest and best treatments, you want a doctor who is keeping up to date and who has access to the latest equipment

2] Look for a doctor who treats your condition 5 days per week. There is no point in finding a doctor who only does a few cases like yours each week ....like everyone, doctors only get really good at something with continual practice.

In the speciality of Varicose Veins treatments, most doctors who "do" varicose veins only treat them half a day or one day per week. Most are "vascular surgeons" or "general surgeons" who spend most of the week doing other operations such as aneurysms, bypasses or other sorts of major surgery. Not surprisingly, when they come to try to do vein surgery, they will not have as much practice as those specialists who do vein surgery every day.

Pregnancy - Varicose veins of the Vagina and Vulva

The Baby Website has run an article on "Varicose vein of the Vagina and Vulva" featuring the revolutionary treatments available and developed at The Whiteley Clinic.

Vulval and vaginal varicose veins in pregnancy
Mark Whiteley and the Whiteley Clinic's revolutionary treatment quoted

For more information, see:

http://www.thebabywebsite.com/article.3065.Varicose_Veins_of_the_Vagina_and_Vulva_in_Pregnancy.htm

Leg ulcer article in The Huffington Post

Mark Whiteley has written an article on the treatment of leg ulcers that appeared today in The Huffington Post.

Using The Whiteley Protocol(TM) Mark and his team have cured 85% of all leg ulcers that have come to The Whiteley Clinic over the last 12 years - and the majority of these had been told that they were incurable.

Mark shows that patients with leg ulcers in the UK and USA are treated by bandaging and dressing alone. At the Whiteley Clinic, specialised duplex ultrasound tests find out the underlying cause of the ulcer - usually the veins - which are then fixed using the latest pin-hole laser surgery under local anaesthetic.

Although it sounds expensive, it actually works out cheaper than continued dressings for years on end - never mind the improved quality of life for the patient and their relatives.

Pelvic congestion syndrome and vulval / vaginal varicose veins

The Talk Health online Gynaecology clinic started today and is due to runs from 6-12th March.

Mark Whiteley is online answering questions about pelvic varicose veins.

 

Talk Health gynaecology clinic starts 6th March 2013
Mark Whiteley online about vulval and vaginal varicose veins
and pelvic congestion syndrome

Pelvic varicose veins cause 2 main problems: 

•  Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
• Vulval and vaginal varicose veins

Join the discussion on http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com

Best for Veiny Legs - Tatler Guide 2013

The Tatler Beauty and Cosmetic Surgery Guide 2013 is now out with the April edition of Tatler.

On page 28, Venaseal (Superglue for varicose veins) is featured for the treatment of Varicose Veins with Mark Whiteley as the expert to see.

Mark Whiteley quoted as person to see for Venaseal "Superglue" for veins
"Best for Veiny Legs" p 28

For more information about Venaseal treatments in London or Guildford:

Mark Whiteley: info@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk
Tel: 01483 477180
Or use the "Chat now" facility on www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk

Excellent results 10 years after radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins at The Whiteley Clinic

The 10 year results of endovenous surgery using VNUS Closure at The Whiteley Clinic have been presented this week at The American Venous Forum in Phoenix Arizona.

The poster presented at The American Venous Forum showing the 10 year results from The Whiteley Clinic

In March 1999, Mark Whiteley performed the first VNUS Closure in the UK - heralding the beginning of the endovenous revolution in the country. Initially insurance companies and other surgeons ignored these new techniques whilst the researchers at The Whiteley Clinic continued to work on them, continually improving the techniques and the understanding of these new approaches.

Now, it is hard to go on the internet without doctors offering endovenous surgery - EVLA (Laser), RFA (Radiofrequency Ablation), Foam Sclerotherapy etc.

However many critics still question the long term results of the new methods of treating veins.

Having been the original centre providing this approach in the UK and having an excellent background in clinical research, The Whiteley Clinic has now produced the 10 year results of treating varicose veins with radiofrequency ablation.

Poster on display at The American Venous Forum 2013 in Phoenix

With over 90% success and patient satisfaction after a mean of 11.1 years, the long term results of this form of endovenous surgery for varicose veins - when performed using The Whiteley Protocol - have now been shown to be excellent.

However, it is important to note that not everyone will be able to reproduce these results. Research has shown that excellent results do not rely just on which device is used, but how it is used. Hence it is important for everyone who has varicose veins treated using endovenous devices to make sure that the person offering the treatment has adequate experience and uses the principles taught in The Whiteley Protocol.

Poster title:

Ten Year Results Of Radiofrequency Ablation (VNUS Closure) Of The Great Saphenous And Anterior Accessory Saphenous Veins, In The Treatment Of Varicose Veins

DC Taylor, AM Whiteley, TJ Fernandez-Hart, CC Harrison, JM Holdstock, MS Whiteley