Boxbar Vascular

Have you wondered if you are at a high risk for a heart attack? Does your family have a medical history of strokes and heart issues? Do you smoke? Are you overweight? All those things increase your risk level. Many people have none of these high-risk factors and, therefore don’t realize that they are high risk.Dr. Ellen performs a non-invasive ultrasound of your carotid artery to check your risk level. Based on the results, your risk level is assessed. This test is remarkably effective for identifying seemingly low-risk patients who are a high risk and need to be concerned. Once you know about that risk level, you have the key in your hands to prevent one or both of these terrible events from happening to you.

Dr. Ellen can assess your risk of a stroke with a test called a Carotid Duplex scan. The test is painless and easy. Two types of ultrasound (conventional and Doppler) are used to look for blockages in both carotid arteries. She will ask you not to smoke or drink caffeine for two hours before your test. Wear comfortable clothing with an open neck and don’t wear any jewelry. The test will take about 30 minutes to complete.Once Dr. Ellen has the results of this test, she can assess your stroke risk and treat any issues with surgery or medication. Surgery can remove any plaque that may be present. Another option is a stent, in which a catheter is threaded through your carotid artery to where the blockage is located. The catheter inflates a small balloon to flatten the plaque and then a stent is inserted to keep the artery open. Medication options include blood thinners or medication to control cholesterol levels.The key to this test is catching any problems early before they cause you

Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot in the leg. There are several methods used to diagnose Deep Vein Thrombosis. First, you will have a physical exam to check for areas of swelling, tenderness and skin discoloration.

This procedure uses laser heat to destroy, or ablate, a problem vein. It is a painless, non-invasive, in-office procedure.

Another treatment option is laser treatment using the Cutera XEO laser. This laser allows Dr. Ellen to treat spider veins anywhere on the body – face, chest, breasts, hands, arms and more. Any skin type can benefit from this treatment – light or dark. The laser delivers pulse light energy, causing the blood in the vein to coagulate. After 3 to 5 treatments, the vein will die and be reabsorbed by the body. There is little to no downtime after treatment but you should avoid strenuous activity for the first 24 hours after treatment. You should see results in two to six weeks after treatment.

A medical grade of glue is used to close off diseased or offending veins. Blood is then re-routed to other healthy veins, and the hardened, glue-filled veins are then absorbed by the body.

Pelvic/Labial type of varicose veins develops in a woman’s pelvic, labial or vulvar regions during pregnancy. Almost 30% of all pregnant women will develop them, and once the baby is born, the veins don’t disappear on their own. The veins usually affect women ages 25-45 years of age and women who have multiple pregnancies. They start to develop around the fifth month of pregnancy. Treatment is usually postponed until after the baby has been born. However, you don’t have to be pregnant to develop these veins – any woman can develop them.

The Pre-Podiatry screening is a non-invasive ankle pressure test. This test is done in the office, and the results are available on the same day. If we determine that you don’t have enough oxygen, Dr. Ellen can fix that issue and possibly save your toe, foot or leg. If the screening shows everything is fine, you can proceed with any foot surgery with a very low risk.If you need further foot surgery and it has been more than a year since your screening, you will need to be re-screened. Some insurance providers cover the cost of this screening, while others do not. The cost of the screening is affordable so even if you do have to pay out-of-pocket, it is important and should be done. We have found that if you are referred for the screening by your primary care physician or your podiatrist, that insurance companies are more likely to pay.

This is a very similar procedure to EVLT, but instead of laser heat, this procedure uses radio frequency (electricity) to ablate and collapse dysfunctional veins. It is also non-invasive, painless and done in-office

This is a procedure used to treat very small veins. A tiny needle containing a chemical foam is injected into the offending vein. It irritates the vein until it collapses and is dissolved by the body.

Phlebectomy is a minimally invasive varicose vein surgery that uses a small needle to remove varicose veins on the leg surface. If you are a good candidate, this procedure is very successful. A second treatment option is a new treatment option called VenaSeal. This is an FDA approved procedure in which there is no downtime – you can literally go to the gym after the procedure! Through a small catheter, medical glue is sealed up the main defective vein. The vein will then harden and be reabsorbed by the body. This is a painless and safe way to get rid of varicose veins.

Once your diagnosis is confirmed, there are several treatment options available to you. There are minimally invasive options such as catheter-based and stent procedures. There are options which combine the minimally invasive procedures with some of the surgical procedures. Patients have great results with these “hybrid” procedures. Depending on the level of need, there are also surgical only options to consider.Once a diagnosis is made, Dr. Ellen will review all the options with you and together you will decide on your best treatment course. She is highly skilled in the latest techniques and procedures to treat vascular system problems, and you will relax, knowing you are in the very best hands. Her care is all patient-centered care, and you are her top priority.