AboutLauri Ordway Expertise I can answer your questions related to peripheral vacular disorders. This includes all arteries and veins except those inside the head and inside the heart. IE: neck (carotid), arms (carotid subclavian bypases to Thoracic Outlet) belly (aortic aneurysm & occlusive disorders, renal artery stenosis), legs (iliac, femoral, popliteal, peroneal, dorasalis pedis, posterior and anterior tibial) arteries. Aneurysm & occlusive disease, atherosclerosis, leg pain, arterial wounds and gangrene, amputation prevention. Vein disorders: Blood Clots (DVT), post-phlebetic syndrome, varicose veins, venous stasis ulcers. I can help with vascular wound treatments. Also, Raynauds, Buerger`s disease, Thoracic Outlet and other miscellaneous vascular disorders.
I CANNOT answer questions about your heart disease, blood pressure, brain aneurysm, although I can help with questions about the arteries that go to and from those organs.
Experience I am a nurse, I have worked for 14 years with two terrific peripheral vascular surgeons, one of them is also the inventor of very innovative wound care products and surgical instruments to make vascular surgery procedures better and faster. I wrote and manage our clinic website and field questions from patients all over the world.
Expert: Lauri Ordway Date: 6/21/2006 Subject: DVT in upper left groin and damaged valve
Question I am 30 years old and developed a massive DVT in my left leg at the groin when I was 35 weeks pregnant. I have Activated Protein C Resistence and Factor V Leidan, which are clotting disorders. I was hospitalised and my blood pressure started to go up and down and gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 37 wks.
The DVT is located in the superficial femoral vein about 17cm above the knee, extending through the left common femoral vein and into the distal part of the left external iliac vein. I have started to form some collateral vessels extending from the superficial femoral vein about 25cm below groin level.
It is now 7 months after the birth and the DVT is still there. I was on Warfarin for 6 months but have now been taken off it.
The advice I have been given is that the clot will probably always be there, and that the damaged valve can never be repaired. Both my nephrologist and vascular surgeon said they cannot operate to remove the clot as they can't operate on that vein. Is this true?
I have been told to wear a compression stocking (to my knee) for the rest of the my life. Also during my next pregnancy I will need to be on blood thinners again.
I just want to know whether the clot can in fact be removed and the valve repaired, as I know in years to come the leg will become worse.
I am a non smoker, drink very rarely and have recently started to get very active again by going to the gym, doing aerobics, dancing and running, as I used to do prior to the DVT. The leg is still a little swollen but a lot better than it was when I was in hospital. I am developing some varicose veins, but the worst one is along my stomach.
I look forward to hearing any advice you may have in relation to fixing my leg.
Answer Hi, There is only one doctor I know that does vein bypasses, he is in Ohio, you might try the vascular surgery website www.vascularweb.org/ and look at doc in your area for those who specialize in vein problems, it is a great surgery when it works and in my experience it works about 70% of the time.
Dr. Ronald R. Magee
1005 Bellefontaine Avenue,
Lima, Ohio
