MedStar Health Blog

There is a new treatment option for those who suffer from vein problems: the VenaSeal™ Closure System.

How it works:

1. A small amount of a medical bonding agent is injected to seal off the diseased veins
2. Blood reroutes itself around the sealed-off area, through your healthy veins, restoring normal flow
3. Symptoms often improve immediately
4. The bonding agent is naturally absorbed by your body over time

Benefits:

• Symptoms often improve as soon as the diseased vein is closed
• Recovery time is quick and many patients return to normal activity right after the procedure
• Minimal pain during and after the procedure as compared to radiofrequency or laser ablation, due to avoidance of multiple needle sticks
• Minimal post-procedure bruising as compared to radiofrequency or laser ablation, due to avoidance of a large amount of numbing medication
• Compression hosiery is not required pre- or post-procedure
• Minimal chance of nerve damage as compared to other current ablation methods, due to the avoidance of thermal heat

MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute is the first in Washington, D.C., and Maryland to offer this new therapy.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call

202-877-3627

As heard on WTOP Radio:

Misaki Kiguchi, MD
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute

Misaki Kiguchi, MD, is a board-certified vascular specialist with special interest and experience in treating vein disorders. A graduate of Yale University School of Medicine, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and its Magee-Womens Hospital, Dr. Kiguchi has extensive training in the complete spectrum of arterial and venous diseases. Dr. Kiguchi specializes in vein disorders, using the most advanced and effective treatments and therapies.

To discuss your unique condition and possible risks,
call 202-877-3627 to schedule a consult with Dr. Kiguchi at her Chevy Chase office.

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Blue Light Cystoscopy: A Better Way to Detect Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States with a high rate of recurrence. Unfortunately, up to 30% of bladder tumors are overlooked, because they are often too small to see with the standard testing method called cystoscopy.

Fortunately, a new, FDA-approved method now available at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is helping doctors identify bladder tumors earlier thanks to better imaging. The technology is called Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview®.

During this test, the patient is given an imaging agent that is absorbed by the cancerous tissue. This causes it to appear fluorescent when exposed to “blue light,” which is created by a special camera and lens. This allows urologists to detect more of the cancer, remove it, and provide treatment to keep it from coming back.

WHITE LIGHT CYSTOSCOPY

BLUE LIGHT CYSTOSCOPY AS AN ADJUNCT TO WHITE LIGHT

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call

202-877-3627

As heard on WTOP Radio:

Lambros Stamatakis MD Director, Urologic Oncology MedStar Washington Hospital Center

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stamatakis, call 202-877-3627

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By Brendan Furlong, MD, Chief of Service, Emergency Department, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

The statistics are staggering: More than three-quarters of a million people in the United States experience a stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and one American dies from a stroke every 4 minutes, on average.

With those numbers, it’s easy to understand why the CDC, the National Stroke Association (NSA) and others say that every minute counts when it comes to stroke diagnosis and treatment.

What is a stroke?

During a stroke, blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off so brain cells lose oxygen and begin to die. As a result, bodily functions controlled by that area of the brain, such as memory and muscle movement, can be damaged.

The most common strokes are:

• Ischemic strokes: When the artery that supplies blood to the brain becomes blocked. Blood clots are a major cause of blockages that lead to ischemic strokes.
• Hemorrhagic strokes: Whenan artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures, causing excessive pressure that damages brain cells. Conditions that cause a hemorrhagic stroke include high blood pressure and aneurysms.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is the temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain, causing neurologic deficits. When the blood supply is restored, the deficits resolve. A TIA can serve as a warning sign of an impending stroke and should be treated as seriously as a stroke.

Who is at risk?

Age is an important risk factor for stroke. Although anyone can experience a stroke, the chance of having one nearly doubles every 10 years after age 55. Men are more likely to experience stroke than women, but women are more likely to die from stroke.

Know the signs

It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke. In both men and women, according to the CDC, a stroke may appear as:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion or difficulty speaking
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Inability to walk, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause

Stroke Prevention

The key to stroke prevention is to understand and manage your risks. Some causes of stroke, such as genetics and family history, cannot be controlled. But you can take steps to manage many common medical conditions that increase your risk, including:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Atrial fibrillation
• Diabetes

Managing these conditions and making healthy choices—eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption—can help prevent stroke.

If you or someone else experiences any symptoms of stroke, call 911 immediately and get to a specialized stroke center, if possible. Prompt emergency care, whether to prevent another stroke or treat side effects of stroke, can ensure the quickest possible diagnosis and treatment.

Make an Appointment

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a stroke specialist, call our scheduling line:

855-546-2051

Learn More

• Stroke
• Stroke Syndromes
• Stroke Intervention

Act FAST

The FAST acronym, standing for “Face, Arms, Speech, Time” can improve detection and prompt treatment for stroke.

New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults 65 years and older receive two vaccines to protect against pneumococcal disease, up from the previous recommendation of only one.

Pneumococcal infections may range from sinus infections to pneumonia, which is one of the leading killers of older adults in the United States.

Historically, adults over 65 without certain health complications were instructed to receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) after turning 65. Now, they are encouraged to also get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). These two vaccines work in different ways to expand protection against pneumococcal infection.

Healthy adults older than 65 who have never been vaccinated should first get the PCV13, then the PPSV23 one year later. For those that have previously been vaccinated with PPSV23, the PCV13 is recommended at least one year after the last PPSV23. Adults with certain health conditions may require a different vaccination schedule.

Dr. Wortmann recommends asking your primary care doctor if this vaccination should be added to your immunizations.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call

202-877-3627

As heard on WTOP Radio:

Glenn Wortmann, MD
Director, Infectious Diseases
MedStar Washington Hospital Center

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wortmann, or to get a referral for a primary care doctor, call 202-877-3627.

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Fibroids

Jim Robinson, MD, says the most common problem that sends women to their gynecologists is abnormal uterine bleeding. And one of the most common structural reasons for abnormal bleeding is the presence of fibroids. More than 50 percent of all women, and 80 percent of African-American women, have them.

But this doesn’t mean you should be overly concerned. Dr. Robinson says that fibroids can be taken care of – usually in a minimally invasive way.

Procedures are usually done on an outpatient basis, using small incisions and precise targeting – which means less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional, open surgery. If you haven’t completed your family, fibroids can be removed through keyhole incisions. If a hysterectomy is the route that you and your doctor choose, Dr. Robinson says that “it isn’t your mother’s hysterectomy – you won’t automatically go into menopause.” Whenever possible, the ovaries are preserved; they create testosterone, which is important for healthy aging. The surgery can be performed through a small incision and is now often an outpatient procedure.

The goal is to get women back to living their lives in the least disruptive way possible. “It’s important to get you back to the rhythm of your life a bit faster,” Dr. Robinson adds. “That’s something I’m pretty passionate about.”

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call

202-877-3627

As heard on WTOP Radio:

James Robinson, MD, MS, FACOG
Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
MedStar Washington Hospital Center

To make an appointment, call 202-877-3627