Leg Ulcer Charity website launched

The Leg Ulcer Charity is a new UK charity whose mission is to reduce the number of patients in the UK with leg ulcers.


Leg Ulcer Charity website launched - www.LegUlcerCharity.org

Research over the last decade has shown that most leg ulcers can be cured by proper investigations and local anaesthetic endovenous surgery.

Unfortunately, most patients only get offered bandages and dressings which might temporarily improve or heal the leg ulcer .... but as they do not affect the underlying causes, do not cure the problem in the long term. Hence the ulcer returns.

Using proper modern medical investigations, specialists can find the underlying cause of the leg ulcer in the majority of patients and permanently fix it - curing the leg ulcer for good.

The Leg Ulcer Charity has been set up to:

1. EMPOWER patients, family and carers to ask for the right investigations and treatments to get a cure of a leg ulcer
2. RESEARCH new leg ulcer investigations, treatments and effects that having a leg ulcer has on patients, family and society
3. EDUCATE doctors and nurses to now about new methods to cure leg ulcers permanently
4. Provide GRANTS to patients needing help to get their leg ulcer investigated and treated 



Any donations or sponsorship can be made through the website.

The Leg Ulcer Charity Website: http://www.legulcercharity.org/
 

Ultrasound best to assess pelvic varicose veins - Whiteley Clinic research presented at the VSS

Scott dos Santos, the Whiteley Clinic research co-ordinator, presented an original research study last evening at the national meeting of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Scott dos Santos, Whiteley Clinic research co-ordinator presenting
a paper at the Vascular Surgical Society, Nov 2013 



Scott's research study showed that when assessing pelvic varicose veins in women, the trans-vaginal ultrasound scan is the Gold Standard test.

Many doctors still use MRI, CT or venograms - however this research suggests that these other tests will leave some patients with incorrect diagnosis and that might lead to the wrong or incomplete treatment.

This research has been submitted for publication so that other doctors and clinics can use the findings of The Whiteley Clinic's research efforts.

http://www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/whiteley-clinic-research-fellows.htm
 

Does the Pill cause varicose veins? Your vein questions answered

Does the oral contraceptive pill cause varicose veins?

One of the multiple questions asked through the "You Questions" page of The Whiteley Clinic website.



Questions about varicose veins, thread (spider) veins, leg ulcers etc are answered by Professor Mark Whiteley.

To ask a question: http://www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/your-questions/

 

Jade Davidson performs hand reflexology during complex varicose vein surgery on TV

During the filming for TV of a patient having her complex varicose veins treated today at The Whiteley Clinic, Jade Davidson performed hand reflexology to reduce the patient's anxiety and discomfort.



Jade Davidson, expert reflexologist, performs hand reflexology to
help patient during complex varicose vein surgery at The Whiteley Clinic

Jade has been working with Professor Mark Whiteley over the last 2 years and is current just finishing a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to investigate whether hand reflexology reduces pain and anxiety during local anaesthetic endovenous surgery.

The results from this study will be available in 2014.

During the filming of our case today for TV, Jade performed her hand reflexology on the patient, helping her through the procedure.

http://www.roseyfeet.co.uk

 

Filming varicose veins for TV show

This morning we are being filmed for a TV show to be shown next year. Professor Mark Whiteley is about to operate on a lady with complex varicose veins using endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and phlebectomies.

Filming complex varicose vein surgery at The Whiteley Clinic for a TV show 

This patient had severe varicose veins arising from pelvic vein reflux, and had her pelvic vein embolization last week (www.vulval-varicose-veins.co.uk).

Today she will have the leg varicose veins treated under local anaesthetic.

 

False aneurysm in groin after EVLA treatment for varicose veins - a rare complication

Any complication after EVLA laser treatment for varicose veins is rare when done in a specialist vein clinic.

However we have just published a fascinating case of an extremely rare complication.


Arterial false aneurysm in the groin following endovenous laser ablation
Ostler AE, Holdstock JM, Harrison CC, Whiteley MS.

Following EVLA treatment, our patient developed a tense "pseudoanerysm" in the groin - bleeding from a local artery.

At The Whiteley Clinic we have an emergency telephone system and so the patient was able to come straight back again. Our specialist vascular technologists were able to identify the precise cause of the problem and the patient was cured by injection of a drug to help clotting and precise pressure on the bleeding vessel by the duplex ultrasound probe.

To see abstract and reference see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24255091
To see Phlebology journal information: http://phl.sagepub.com/

 

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Perforators and pelvic veins causing varicose veins - Mark Whiteley speaking at Veith, New York

Varicose veins affect are seen in about 20 - 25% of the adult population and so it is essential that when they are treated, the very best techniques are used, in order that the risks of them recurring after surgery is minimised.

Prof Mark Whiteley speaking at the Veith Symposium, in New York, Nov 2013
Photo - Courtesy: Vascular News



Research from The Whiteley Clinic has made it clear that just treating the varicose veins in the legs is not enough for optimal treatment in many patients.

Our research has shown that leg varicose veins are not only associated with the usual long veins that run up the leg, but also come from Incompetent Perforating Veins and Pelvic Veins in many patients. This suggests that patients who only have the leg veins investigated and treated are much more likely to get their varicose veins back again after treatment - varicose vein recurrence.

Most doctors in the world still only provide simple investigation and treatment of the main leg veins, and do not look for, or treat, incompetent perforating veins nor pelvic veins. At The Whitely Clinic we use The Whiteley Protocol - making sure that everyone gets a full investigation and all of their vein problems are treated. This is why our patient satisfaction is so high and our audited results show such a low rate of recurrence after our treatments.

Prof Mark Whiteley was asked to present his research and views at the Veith Symposium in New York in the form of 2 debates and one lecture:

• DEBATE: Pre-emptive Strike on Perforators Reduces Recurrences
  Mark S Whiteley
• Detecting Iliac, IVC, Ovarian Vessels by Duplex
  Mark S Whiteley
• DEBATE: Pre-emptive Strike on Incompetent Ovarian Veins Reduces Recurrences
  Mark S Whiteley 

 

Varicose Veins in Children - Huffington Post Article

Varicose veins are often thought to be an adult only problem. In this article in the Huffington Post, Professor Mark Whiteley explains about varicose veins that occur in children - and how they should be treated.



Prof Mark Whiteley in The Huffington Post
"Varicose Veins in Children"



See full article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-s-whiteley/varicose-veins-in-childre_b_4296599.html

 

Pelvic veins and perforators at Veith in New York

Professor Mark Whiteley is heading to the world famous Veith Symposium New York to speak on Pelvic Veins (ovarian veins) and perforator veins in relation to reducing the recurrence from Varicose Vein surgery.



Veith Symposium 2013 - Prof Mark Whiteley speaking in
Session 1 and Session 2



Mark Whiteley be speaking on Tuesday 19th November - see program here: http://veithsymposium.org/index.php?pg=program-2013

Do Saunas Help Varicose Veins?

Some supporters of saunas claim that having a sauna can help if you have varicose veins.

We received a question through our website, asking if this is true:



Prof Mark Whiteley explains the effect saunas have on normal leg veins and varicose veins - with a special note of caution for those who have recently had sclerotherapy for varicose veins.

If you have a question about veins:

http://www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/your-questions/
 

Whiteley Clinic Bristol - GP talk on Thursday 7th November 2013

‘New horizons in venous disease, linking varicose veins to leg ulcers, pelvic congestion and haemorrhoids and a new approach to treatment’

Prof Mark Whiteley and Mr Mike Rocker will be speaking to invited General Practitioners at Litfield House in Bristol on the evening of Thursday 7th November 2013.

Litfield House - Clifton, Bristol

Site of The Whiteley Clinic Bristol, opening January 2014