Latest news with #AlishaOropallo
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. Here's what it means.
President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency — a condition that develops when valves in the leg veins malfunction, leading to blood collecting in the legs. It is a common condition, but severe cases can lead to complications, doctors said. In some cases, chronic venous insufficiency can be a sign of a more serious condition such as problems with the heart, liver or kidneys, said Alisha Oropallo, a vascular surgeon at Northwell Health and a professor of surgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University who wrote a 2022 review on managing the condition. Chronic venous insufficiency 'is not dangerous per se, but it can lead to long-term complications if left untreated, namely ulcerations, severe leg swelling that can be pretty debilitating for some people,' said Thomas Maldonado, medical director of the Venous Thromboembolic Center at NYU Langone Health. Anywhere from 10 to 30 percent of Americans will have 'some form' of chronic venous insufficiency over the course of their life, he said. We asked physicians about symptoms, including swelling, risk factors and treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when there is high pressure in the veins, which are the blood vessels that recirculate blood from the body back to the heart. Veins have one-way valves that prevent blood from flowing backward, but the pressure can cause the valves to weaken and become 'leaky,' Maldonado said, leading to blood pooling in the legs. 'They're delicate little valves, almost like little tissue paper, one-way valves, that catch the blood as it tries to reflux back down to the ankles,' he said. Chronic venous insufficiency is 'a dysfunction in the valves of your veins,' Oropallo said. Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency include aching, throbbing or a feeling of fatigue in the legs, said Chelsea Dorsey, the director of the Vein Clinic at UChicago Medicine. Swelling, skin discoloration and varicose veins are other signs, experts said. 'The valves become incompetent, and then over time the red blood cells leak from the veins into the skin and they turn from the oxidation of the air, they turn from a red color to a brownish hue in the skin ... tattooing the skin dark' and becoming permanent, Oropallo said. Chronic venous insufficiency is not dangerous for most individuals, Dorsey said, but 'in some patients with more advanced stages of the condition, they can be more prone to skin infections or may develop difficult to heal ulcers.' The condition also puts some people at 'increased risk for developing blood clots,' she said. Chronic venous insufficiency could also be an indication of problems in the heart, kidneys or liver in some people, Olopallo said. 'The veins bring the blood back into the heart, and any kind of obstruction or pressure to the area could cause or create a backflow problem,' Oropallo said. When blood cannot get back up to the heart, it can 'cause pressure on the healthy veins and cause them to become diseased.' she said. 'There's a big genetic component to this,' Maldonado said. Some people are at a higher risk of developing it, and varicose veins, because of family history, he said. And the condition is more prevalent as people age. 'It's really one of these insidious diseases that can creep up as we age,' Maldonado said. Pregnant people and individuals who are overweight are also at increased risk of the condition. Other risk factors include a history of blood clots and spending long periods of time on one's feet, the experts said. People who stand a lot for work, such as nurses, physicians and teachers, or those who do prolonged sitting, such as bus drivers, are 'more likely to get venous insufficiency,' Oropallo said. 'And this can also cause, with the lack of movement, blood clots.' A history of blood clots can damage those valves and then later on lead to this chronic venous insufficiency, she said. 'Most people experience these changes over decades. It doesn't just happen in one day,' Oropallo said. Regular use of compression stockings, leg elevation, exercise and weight loss can help with the condition, the experts said. 'In circumstances where someone's symptoms are impacting their quality of life, some minimally invasive procedures may be effective to close the veins in the legs that are not functioning well in an effort to 're-route' the blood flow to a more efficient path,' Dorsey said in an email. Early screening is important, Oropallo said. If someone has symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, heaviness or fatigue in the legs, they can 'ask if the compression stockings are right for them or if they need a subsequent ultrasound,' she said. The condition can be detected with an ultrasound, called a venous reflux study, which assesses 'the incompetence of the veins,' Oropallo said. 'Lifestyle plays a significant role, not just genetics, but a healthy lifestyle like regular exercise, maintaining healthy weight, and avoiding that prolonged immobility can help and prevent or manage the chronic venous insufficiency as well,' she said.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MolecuLight to Showcase Innovative Wound Imaging Platform at the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) 2025
PITTSBURGH, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - MolecuLight Corp., a global pioneer in point-of-care fluorescence imaging for rapid detection of infection causing bacteria in wounds, is pleased to announce its participation in the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM), taking place in New Orleans, LA, from June 4-7, 2025. MolecuLight will be exhibiting at Booth #654, showcasing its DX™ device that provides clinicians with real-time insights into wound characteristics, including bacterial presence, digital wound measurement, and recently released thermal imaging to visualize temperature changes. The SVS Vascular Annual Meeting is a premier global event for vascular surgeons and healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing the field of vascular health. MolecuLight's technology aligns with this mission by offering objective, evidence-based data that empowers clinicians to make more informed decisions at the point-of-care for improved patient care and outcomes1,2. In addition to its presence on the exhibition floor, MolecuLight is proud to highlight that Dr. Alisha Oropallo has received the Society for Vascular Surgery Section on Ambulatory Vascular Care (SAVC) Presentation Award for her abstract titled, "An objective comparative study of non-surgical cleansing techniques and cleanser types in bacterial burden management." Dr. Oropallo will be presenting her award-winning research during the VAM SAVC session on Friday, June 6th. This study emphasizes the importance of objective assessment in wound care and aligns with MolecuLight's commitment to providing clinicians with the tools they need for effective bacterial burden management. "We are excited to participate in the SVS Vascular Annual Meeting and connect with leading vascular surgeons," said Anil Amlani, CEO of MolecuLight. "We congratulate Dr. Oropallo on this well-deserved recognition and are proud that her research, highlighting the critical need for objective data in wound care, will be presented at this prestigious meeting." Attendees of the SVS Vascular Annual Meeting are invited to visit MolecuLight at Booth #654 to learn more about their DX device and how MolecuLight's innovative wound imaging platform can elevate efficiency in their clinical practice. About the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Annual Meeting:The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) is the premier international forum for vascular surgeons and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the science, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular disease. This annual event brings together leading experts from around the globe to share the latest research, advancements, and best practices in vascular care. VAM provides a comprehensive educational experience through scientific sessions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities, all aimed at improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of vascular surgery. About MolecuLight Corp:MolecuLight Corp. is a privately owned medical imaging company with a global presence that manufactures and commercializes the MolecuLight i:X® and DX™ wound imaging devices. These are the only class II FDA-cleared point-of-care imaging devices for the real-time detection of elevated bacterial burden in wounds. They also provide accurate digital wound measurement for comprehensive wound management, supported by strong clinical evidence including over 100 peer-reviewed publications. 1 Jacob A, Jones LM, Abdo RJ, et al. Lights, fluorescence, action-Influencing wound treatment plans including debridement of bacteria and biofilms. Int Wound J. 2023 Oct;20(8):3279-3288. 2 Rahma S, Woods J, Brown S, et al. The Use of Point-of-Care Bacterial Autofluorescence Imaging in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Diabetes Care. 2022 Jul 7;45(7):1601-1609. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE MolecuLight Corp.
