Perforator vein anatomy and physiology can best be explained by using a mapping system and classification which makes it understandable to the lay person ... We have a deep venous system, a superficial venous system and perforator veins connecting these systems of veins. Often, problems with vein therapy are encountered in the short term and long term when patients are taken care of by physicians and surgeons who are NOT trained to address these problems.
Read More

Partial List of Books Written by Dr. Hratch Karamanoukian

By: Staff at www.EliminateSweating.com

October 1, 2008

This is a partial list of books written by Dr. Karamanoukian of the Vein Treatment Center and www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com
Read More

Dr. Denton Cooley, the world famous pioneer in cardiac surgery of the Texas Heart Institute reviews Dr. Karamanoukian's book ....

By: Staff at www.EliminateSweating.com

October 1, 2008

Dr. Denton Cooley of the Texas Heart Institute reviews Dr. Karamanoukian's book - 'Intraoperative Graft Patency Verification in Cardiac and Vascular Surgery'
Read More

Surgeon General's call for action to reduce pulmonary embolism and deep vein clots

By: Hratch L Karamanoukian, Md

October 1, 2008

DVT, Pulmonary Embolism and Surgeon General of the U.S.
Read More

Doody's Review Service Reviews Dr. Hratch Karamanoukian's book - Beating Heart Coronary Artery Surgery

By: Staff at www.EliminateSweating.com

September 30, 2008

Doody's Review Service has given favorable reviews of Dr. Karamanoukian's book (coauthors Dr. D'Ancona, Salerno, Ricci and Bergsland)
Read More

Journal of Interventional Cardiology Reviews Dr. Karamanoukian's book - Beating Heart Coronary Artery Surgery

By: Staff at www.EliminateSweating.com

September 25, 2008

Review of Dr. Karamanoukian's book by the Journal of Interventional Cardiology: "The book [Beating Heart Coronary Artery Surgery] represents a comprehensive overview of the field, and it provides excellent sections on the various surgical techniques required to perform successful off-pump surgery. It is an excellent addition to the literature and is useful for practicing surgeons. The section on outcomes after off-pump coronary surgery is excellent, and provides the justification for why surgeons are pursuing this new avenue of surgical coronary revascularization. "This book represents a comprehensive review of beating heart surgery with particular emphasis on the technical aspects of these procedures." --Journal of Interventional Cardiology
Read More

Horse Chestnut Extract for Venous Insufficiency

By: Hratch L Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

September 14, 2008

A study published in Cochrane Database Syst Rev investigates the efficacy of oral horse chestnut extract versus compression stockings for treating venous insufficiency. It reports that horse chestnut extract is efficacious in the short term for treating venous insufficiency.
Read More

What Do Venous Ulcers Look Like ?

By: Hratch L Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

September 14, 2008

what is a venous stasis ulcer ? Venous stasis ulcers are primarily found on the inner part of the leg, just above the ankle. Venous stasis ulcers are common in patients who have a history of leg swelling, varicose veins or blood clots in either the superficial or the deep veins of the legs. The latter contribute to venous insufficiency and changes in the skin which result in ulceration of the skin.
Read More

VNUS Clsoure Video - How Does VNUS Closure Work ?

By: Hratch L Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

September 14, 2008

See video of VNUS Closure procedure by clicking on the link below
Read More

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian of Santa Monica Vein Center Donates 25 'Heart Health' Books During National Cholesterol Awareness Month

By: Staff at www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com

September 11, 2008

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, Director at the Santa Monica Vein Center and Kare Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery of Santa Monica, CA donates 25 'Heart Health' books during National Cholesterol Awareness Month. September is National Cholesterol Awareness Month of the American Heart Association. The books, entitled "Doctor, How Do I Live the Heart Healthy Way" is authored by Drs. Hratch Karamanoukian, Pierre Aoukar and Andrew Freeman. Dr. Raffy is proud to donate these books to patients with a family history of heart disease in memory of his father, Prof. Levon Karamanoukian, who suffered a heart attack and died unexpectedly in 1999. For more information contact Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at www.SantaMonicaVeinCenter.com
Read More

Dr. Karamanoukian's book, Cardiac Surgery Secrets 2nd Edition has been translated into the Turkish language

By: Editorial Staff at www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com

September 10, 2008

Dr. Hratch Karamanoukian and colleagues, Drs. Tomas Salerno and Paolo Soltoski published a cardiac surgery book called Cardiac Surgery Secrets which was published by Hanley & Belfus. The Second Edition has been translated into the Turkish language and just published.
Read More

Dr. Hratch Karamanoukian and the Vein Treatment Center Celebrate National Cholesterol Awareness Month - www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com

By: Staff at www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com

September 8, 2008

Dr. Hratch Karamanoukian celebrates National Cholesterol Awareness Month by donating 25 “Heart Health” books to his patients with a history of high cholesterol levels. The books, written by Dr. Karamanoukian and his colleagues, Drs. Pierre Aoukar and Andrew Freeman is called ‘Doctor, How Do I Live the Heart Healthy Way?” For more information, contact Dr. Karamanoukian at the Vein Treatment Center at www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com or by calling 716-839-3638.
Read More

VNUS Closure Video - How Does FAST VNUS Closure Work ? www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com and www.SantaMonicaVeinCenter.com

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

September 2, 2008

See video clip of VNUS Closure and how it obliterates the great saphenous vein to treat venous reflux disease.
Read More

Varicose Vein Video on www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com by Carl Russo 97 Rock and 97Rock.com

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD

September 1, 2008

See video clip for varicose vein treatment at the Vein Treatment Center - call 716-839-3638 to schedule an appointent.
Read More

Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy of the Great Saphenous Vein

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

August 25, 2008

Endovenous chemical ablation is a technique for treatment of great saphenous vein insufficiency and this has been performed with foam under ultrasound guidance. Dr. Hill and colleagues have reported the safety and efficacy of foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein using different maneuvers on the lower extremity – that is to reduce the likelihood of foam and bubbles from embolizing to the lungs, and in one of their patients, with a patent foramen ovale, from embolizing across two chambers of the heart and traveling to the microcirculation of the brain. Three groups of patients were studied and the authors demonstrated that foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein was safest when the leg was elevated and without applied compression on the deep veins in the groin. The authors concluded from this retrospective study that “ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein using foam sclerosants is best performed with the leg elevated and no occlusive pressure at the saphenofemoral junction in order to reduce the risk of gas embolization to the central nervous system. [They stated further] that “study is needed to assess the midterm success of this technique and to confirm the effect of using foam produced from physiologic gases”. Dr. Karamanoukian’s comment – ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy is still in evolution and long term outcome is still pending when compared to endovenous obliteration of the great saphenous vein with laser or radiofrequency. It is less expensive that VNUS Closure and EVLT but is associated with gas embolization to the brain with potential TIA and stroke.
Read More

What is a Venous Stasis Ulcer ?

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

August 24, 2008

Individuals who suffer from chronic venous insufficiency, also known as venous reflux disease, are at risk of developing venous stasis ulcers. Approximately 7 million people in the United States have chronic venous insufficiency. It is calculated that one in 1,000 people in the United States have a nonhealing venous stasis ulcer.
Read More

What is Better, Vein Stripping or Endovenous Obliteration (VNUS, EVLLT, ELVeS)

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

August 23, 2008

How effective are endovenous obliteration techniques in the treatment of lower extremity varicose veins? This is a question I often get asked when I evaluate patients with venous reflux disease and varicose veins. A recent meta analysis of existing clinical studies looked into this topic by analyzing studies published until 2007. Dr. Van Den Bos and colleagues from the Department of Dermatology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.published this data in the Journal of Vascular Surgery in August 2008. The researchers found that endovenous obliteration techniques, when compared to ligation and vein stripping was superior: At 3 years follow-up, vein stripping was 78% successful, radiofrequency ablation (VNUS) was 84% successful and endovenous laser therapy (e.g. EVLT) was 94% successful. The authors concluded that “in the absence of large, comparative randomized clinical trials, the minimally invasive techniques appear to be at least as effective as surgery in the treatment of lower extremity varicose veins Dr. Karamanoukian’s note – There you have it, endovenous obliteration is more effective than vein stripping and it seems that endovenous laser (EVLT, ELVeS) are more effective thatn radiofrequency obliteration (e.g. VNUS).
Read More

UK Surgeons Using More and More Endovenous Procedures for Venous Reflux Disease

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

August 21, 2008

A study completed by UK surgeons addresses the types of varicose vein treatments offered by surgeons in the National Health Service and in private practice. The vast majority (96%) offered conventional surgery, namely ligation and stripping and endovenous laser (EVL, ELVeS, EVLT) and radio frequency ablation (VNUS Closure) were more likely to be offered in private practice than in NHS practice. Overall, 38% of respondents for NHS practice and 45% of respondents for private practice offered two or more modalities of treatment. “When asked to consider future practice, 70% surgeons felt that surgery would remain the most commonly used treatment followede by endovenous laser (11%) and VNUS Closure (2%) procedures.
Read More

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian performs VNUS Closure procedure at the Santa Monica Vein Center - see video clip for VNUS Closure

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD

August 1, 2008

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian has been perforing VNUS Closure at the Santa Monica Vein Center since 2005. This video clip for VNUS FAST Clsoure was developed by the VNUS corporation, developers of the VNUS FAST catheter. Contact Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at the Santa Monica Vein Center by calling 310-998-5533 or go to www.SantaMonicaVeinCenter.com
Read More

Vein Treatment Center

Informational Videos

National Center of Excellence for Vein Disorders

Vein Treatment News from the Vein Treatment Center

Vein
Treatment
Center