Announcing the New Tufts-New England Medical Vein Center... the Age of One-Stop Ultimate Leg Treatment Arrives in New England!

City Desks/Health/Medical Writers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2004

The Tufts-New England Medical Center is pleased to announce the opening of the Center for Venous Diseases on April 15, 2004. The goal of the Tufts-NEMC vein center is to provide a one-stop treatment for all varieties of venous disease. A one-stop venous center is an innovative concept in American medicine, and the Tufts-NEMC Center is a welcome first for New England.

Vein problems are one of the most common diseases in the contemporary world. The variety of venous diseases ranges from unsightly spider veins through painful varicose veins to actual skin breakdown with venous ulcers. According to Dr. William C. Mackey, Tufts' Chief of Surgery and a key member of the new Center, "Treatments for leg problems have made a huge leap lately. A facility where you can go and take advantage of these advantages is a logical outcome of the advances."

The staff at the Tufts-New England Vein Center are medical specialists in Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). They can make good as new legs that are damaged by standing too much, or genetic disposition, excessive sports, or just pregnancies." This is a field that has been transformed over the last decades, thanks to sonograms, magnetic resonance imagining and venography, use of radio frequency waves, and laser, laparoscopic and other high-tech treatments. Says Dr. Mackey, "Together these exciting developments make venous surgery defensibly American medicine's happiest field. We can cure permanently conditions that used to be chronic, give people a new lease on beauty, and a pain-free, more active life.'

Since these boons to tired and hurt legs are complex, a person needs get the right diagnosis and go to a facility where the doctors have the most skill and experience. According to Dr. Thomas O'Donnell, who directs the new center and was formerly head of the entire hospital, "We are dedicated to a less is more approach where we pinpoint a person's unique leg problem and use every skill and technology at our disposal to pinpoint and cure the problem with the least inconvenience to the patient. Many procedures are incisionless and don't require any hospital stay. We have access in our new center to resources in terms of equipment and surgeons that simply are not available elsewhere."

The new center builds upon the Tufts-NEMC vascular unit's international reputation in venous disease management, which has pioneered innovative breakthroughs in both the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. Its dream team includes four surgeons, a nurse and technical director, all with vast experience in the diagnostics and treatment of venous problems.

Thomas F. O'Donnell Jr., M.D., FACS. has developed several techniques that are currently employed in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. He is past President of both the American Venous Forum, the major organization for the treatment of venous disease in the U.S., and past President of the Society for Vascular Surgeons, our nation's oldest and most prestigious vascular organization.

Mark Iafrati, M.D, FACS has published extensively on venous disease and has, in addition, developed a new instrument to facilitate minimally invasive treatment.

James Estes, M.D. directs the Tufts-EMC Non-invasive Vascular Lab and has great experience in endovascular techniques. He is highly experienced in micro and sclerotherapy cases.

William C. Mackey, M.D., FACS is the Chief of the division of vascular surgery and the chairman of the department of surgery at Tufts-NEMC. Dr. Mackey maintains an active clinical practice including both arterial and venous surgery.

The Tufts-New England Medical Vein Center is located on the fourth floor of the modern South Building on Washington Street in Boston. Valet parking is available. New patients can be pre-registered by phone. All forms of insurance are accepted... If you are experiencing hurt legs or vein problems, check out the repairs offered at the new one-stop center at Tufts-NEMC. For an appointment call 617-636-VEIN.