19, 1, 2023

Deep Vein Thrombosis

2023-01-14T12:56:07-08:00

What do Serena Williams, Richard Nixon, Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney and David Bloom have in common? They have all suffered a potentially fatal deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) mainly affects the large veins in the lower leg and thigh. The clot can block blood flow and cause swelling and pain. When a clot breaks off and moves through the bloodstream, this is called an embolism. An embolism can get stuck in the brain, lungs, heart, or another area, leading to severe damage.

Blood clots may form when something slows or changes the flow of blood in the veins which then becomes deep vein thrombosis. Risk factors include:

  • After a pacemaker catheter has been passed through the vein in the groin
  • Bedrest
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Family history of blood clots
  • Fractures in the pelvis or legs
  • Giving birth within the last 6 months
  • Heart failure
  • Obesity
  • Recent surgery (especially hip, knee, or female pelvic surgery)
  • Too many blood cells being made by the bone marrow (polycythemia vera), causing the blood to be thicker and slower than normal

You’re also more likely to develop DVT if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Blood that is more likely to clot (hypercoagulability)
  • Cancer
  • Taking estrogens or birth control pills.
  • Long airplane flights: London’s Heathrow Airport reports one passenger death a month from DVT. One nearby hospital recorded thirty passenger deaths from DVT in the past three years including a 28-year-old man. To reduce the risk of DVT during air travel,  passengers are advised to wear compression stockings on flights, frequently moving around the cabin and pumping the calf muscles, leg elevation and avoidance of sedentary positions for long periods of time without moving.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

Deep Vein Thrombosis2023-01-14T12:56:07-08:00

Patient Transformations from venous disease: spider veins

2023-01-14T12:55:33-08:00

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are the fine, thread-like reddish veins at the surface of the skin. Spider veins are not healthy. Spider veins are often considered a cosmetic issue, but they can be associated with underlying feeder veins, not visible to the naked eye.  Feeder veins are the ‘blue veins’ also known as ‘reticular veins,’ that give rise to spider veins. Spider veins may also be a sign of underlying venous insufficiency. For example, spider veins located in the inner ankles and inner thighs can indicate an underlying problem with the saphenous vein. As a result, an ultrasound examination may be recommended to identify and effectively treat the underlying source of the spider veins.

What are the symptoms of spider veins?

Vein conditions affect people differently. For some, spider veins can be a painless cosmetic concern, and for others they may cause symptoms. The most common symptoms of spider veins are burning, throbbing, and localized pain. They can also feel hot and itchy and bleed.

What causes spider veins?

These types of veins in the legs are caused by the same condition that causes varicose veins. Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. Spider veins on other areas of the body, such as the face, and chest can be caused by sun damage, hormone changes or liver disease. Hormones, such as with pregnancy, birth control or hormone replacement therapy can weaken the vein wall.

Below are patient transformations with Sclerotherapy treatment.  

spider5 BA SV spider 7after fotor6 BA SV spider 11after fotor

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

Patient Transformations from venous disease: spider veins2023-01-14T12:55:33-08:00

Patient Transformations from venous disease: varicose veins

2023-01-14T12:52:41-08:00

What are varicose veins (venous disease)?

Varicose veins (venous disease) are the twisted, bulging veins just beneath the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of the body. Varicose veins are a common condition.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are caused by leaky vein valves, which allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. Varicose veins can be an isolated finding, but the majority of the time, they are caused by underlying venous reflux disease. Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, venous insufficiency or venous incompetence. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins.

In our study, led by Dr. Nisha Bunke and published in the Journal of Vascular Ultrasound in 2018, we studied over 1,000 legs with varicose veins. Over 90% of the time, the source of the varicose veins were the great and small saphenous veins. The Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein (SSV), which courses along the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface. 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular Before and After Transformations:

venousvenousvenous

At La Jolla Vein & Vascular, we are here for our patients from beginning to the end. We love seeing the transformations from venous disease that take place. Below are a few cases from our patient transformations from before varicose vein treatment to after varicose vein treatment. 

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Venous and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

Patient Transformations from venous disease: varicose veins2023-01-14T12:52:41-08:00

Patient Reviews & Testimonials

2023-01-14T12:52:11-08:00

La Jolla Vein & Vascular is a state-of-the-art medical center dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis and treatment of venous conditions and arterial conditions.

Conditions that can be treated by La Jolla’s specialists include varicose veins, spider veins, and venous leg ulcers, chronic venous insufficiency, edema, lymphedema, and deep vein thrombosis.  Arterial conditions and treatments such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), atherectomy, angioplasty, stenting.  We also offer prostate artery embolization (PAE) to treat BPH, varicocele embolization for men and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), pelvic venous congestion (PVCS), pelvic and labial varicose veins for women.  Osteoarthritis treatment includes genicular artery embolization (GAE) to alleviate knee pain due to arthritis.

Below are some patient reviews and testimonials. 

veinveinveinvein

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Venous and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled venous and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

For a deeper dive into venous insufficiency and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

Patient Reviews & Testimonials2023-01-14T12:52:11-08:00

Spider Veins & Treatment

2022-12-26T11:48:20-08:00

One of the most commonly used ways to treat spider veins is through a procedure called Sclerotherapy. At La Jolla Vein and Vascular we have seen great patient transformations with this type of therapy. If you are interested in knowing if you have spider veins, check this article out. 

Sclerotherapy

Why was I recommended to have sclerotherapy injections?

Spider veins and reticular veins of the legs are most commonly treated with sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy involves an injection of a medication into the vein. This will cause the vein to collapse and gradually fade away. Sclerotherapy has been used to treat spider veins for decades, but newer solutions such as Asclera allow for spider veins to be treated with minimal discomfort and immediate return to activities. 

Vein specialists rarely use saline solutions these days, because alternative solutions are less painful and better tolerated. Sclerotherapy is preferred by most vein specialists over laser because spider veins often have underlying feeder veins that can easily be treated with sclerotherapy, but are not addressed by laser. Many people will require more than one treatment session for optimal results. The national average is 2 to 5 treatment sessions. Treatment sessions are often spaced a month apart, but your health care provider will help determine your customized care plan. Wearing compression stockings after treatment will improve results. 

For larger veins, the medication may be turned into a foam, this is referred to as foam sclerotherapy. Foam sclerotherapy is similar to sclerotherapy of spider veins but instead of a liquid solution, a foamed-solution is injected directly into the vein via a small needle. The solution can be seen on ultrasound monitoring which allows it to be directed into nearby varicose veins painlessly. The veins will seal shut, and gradually be broken down by the body. 

What should I expect on my treatment days?

You will sign your consent form then change into shorts provided by the office. We will clean your skin with alcohol. The sclerosant medication will then be injected into your veins with a fine needle. After your treatment, we will help you into your compression stockings, then you will walk for 30 minutes prior to getting into your car. It is normal for your legs to be achy and tender to the touch after treatment. 

What should I do after treatment? 

You will be instructed on how long to wear compression stockings after treatment, depending on the size of the veins that are treated. Most patients wear thigh-high compression stockings continuously for 1-3 days, then another 7 days. You may shower with the stockings on or take a quick cool shower with them off. 

You should walk 30 minutes twice daily after treatment and move your legs frequently throughout the day with short walks and/or calf exercises. This avoids pooling of blood in the legs. Avoid prolonged sitting during the day. 

It is normal to have aching in the treated veins. This responds well to walking, ice packs, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). 

What should I avoid after treatment? 

For at least two weeks after treatment, you should avoid strenuous exercise (anything more than a brisk walk), heavy lifting, saunas or hot tubs, and leg massages. All of these dilate the superficial veins and interfere with their healing. You should also avoid airline travel for two weeks after treatment. 

What are the possible side effects?

You will likely have some bruising over the injection sites, then the treated veins may become firm and blue. 

The skin overlying treated veins may also develop brownish hyperpigmentation as the blood products within those veins are absorbed by the body; in some patients it can take up to a year to fade. Some patients temporarily develop some very fine, pink spider veins in areas where veins have been treated (telangiectatic matting). These usually resolve spontaneously over several weeks but occasionally require additional treatment to clear. If you notice the spider veins have not gone away after treatment, this information may be helpful for you. 

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

 

Spider Veins & Treatment2022-12-26T11:48:20-08:00

Spider Veins 101

2022-12-26T11:44:04-08:00

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are the fine, thread-like reddish veins at the surface of the skin. Spider veins are not healthy. Spider veins are often considered a cosmetic issue, but they can be associated with underlying feeder veins, not visible to the naked eye.  Feeder veins are the ‘blue veins’ also known as ‘reticular veins,’ that give rise to spider veins. Spider veins may also be a sign of underlying venous insufficiency. For example, spider veins located in the inner ankles and inner thighs can indicate an underlying problem with the saphenous vein. As a result, an ultrasound examination may be recommended to identify and effectively treat the underlying source of the spider veins.

What are the symptoms of spider veins?

Vein conditions affect people differently. For some, spider veins can be a painless cosmetic concern, and for others they may cause symptoms. The most common symptoms of spider veins are burning, throbbing, and localized pain. They can also feel hot and itchy and bleed.

What causes spider veins?

The veins in the legs are caused by the same condition that causes varicose veins. Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. These veins on other areas of the body, such as the face, and chest can be caused by sun damage, hormone changes or liver disease. Hormones, such as with pregnancy, birth control or hormone replacement therapy can weaken the vein wall.

These veins are like varicose veins but smaller. Often, they are red or blue. They can look like tree branches or spiderwebs with their short, jagged lines. This patient had large clusters of bluish colored spider veins around the knee. 

To see how sclerotherapy works for spider veins, go to La Jolla Vein Care’s Youtube channel.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

 

 


Spider Veins 1012022-12-26T11:44:04-08:00

Varicose Veins & Treatment

2022-12-26T11:36:19-08:00

Endovenous laser vein ablation, also known as endovenous laser therapy (EVLA), is a type of treatment for saphenous vein reflux, the underlying cause of most varicose veins. At La Jolla Vein Care, we offer ALL treatment modalities for varicose veins, not just one. Treatment is customized based on a person’s individual pattern of venous reflux (determined by ultrasound examination), personal preference, and personal health history.

EVLA Treatment for Varicose Veins Recovery Tips: 

What should I do to optimize recovery after treatment? 

 

Walking is essential to optimize recovery and avoid pooling of blood in the legs. You should walk 30 minutes twice daily during treatment and to do other calf exercises throughout the day.

 

Thigh-high compression stockings must be worn continuously for 72 hours after each treatment and for an additional week during the day after the last treatment. This improves your recovery and reduces complications.

 

Ice packs can be used as well as anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) for pain relief.

 

No strenuous exercise, hot tubs, or leg massages for two weeks to allow veins to heal.

 

Avoid airline travel for two weeks to minimize risk of deep vein clots.

 

Avoid Saunas as these dilate the superficial veins and interfere with healing.

 

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information.

 

Varicose Veins & Treatment2022-12-26T11:36:19-08:00

Varicose Veins 101

2022-12-26T11:31:21-08:00

Varicose veins are swollen, blue, bulging, twisted, superficial (those closest to the skin) veins of the leg. High pressure inside the superficial veins of the leg causes varicose veins, but genetics are thought to play a large, contributing role. As many as 40 million Americans have them. Left untreated, varicose veins may become worse. Persons with varicose veins often experience leg aches and fatigue. They may also incur skin changes such as rashes, redness and ulcers.

What factors influence development of varicose veins?

  • Age: People between the ages of 30 and 70 often have varicose veins. 
  • During pregnancy, 50 to 55 percent of American women experience varicose veins. In most cases, the veins return to normal within a year after childbirth.
  • Women who have multiple pregnancies may develop permanent varicose veins.  

Risk factors include:

o being overweight, or a family history of varicose veins

o standing or sitting for long periods of time

A vascular surgeon will review your medical history, do a physical exam and look at your prominent veins. You may be sent for a duplex ultrasound test, also known as a venous reflux study, to identify the causes of your varicose veins. The painless test uses high-frequency waves to measure the venous blood flow. The test helps the physician visualize the vein structure and the blood flow in the veins.

Most doctors will suggest lifestyle changes for patients. This includes:

  • maintaining the proper weight
  • elevating legs when resting
  • not sitting or standing for long periods of time 
  • wearing compression (elastic support) stockings

In some cases, a vascular surgeon will recommend additional treatments:

  • Sclerotherapy is the sealing of the veins via an injection of a medication. This procedure is done mainly for smaller spider veins. It is performed in a doctor’s office. The physician injects a chemical into the varicose veins to prevent the veins from filling with blood.
  • Vein Stripping is performed. The physician may make two small incisions, one in the groin area and another below the knee, through which the diseased veins are removed. This is an outpatient procedure, usually done under general anesthesia. Patients can resume their normal activities after four weeks.
  • Ablation and laser treatment are performed on patients with severe varicose veins. They are done under local or general anesthetic. The ablation procedure inserts a thin, flexible catheter into the leg vein. The tip of the catheter has tiny electrodes that heat and seal off the walls of the vein. Laser treatments use a tiny fiber placed in the vein through a catheter. The fiber sends out laser energy that closes the diseased portion of the vein. These two modes of treatment frequently replace stripping of the saphenous vein. They can be performed alone or in conjunction with removal of individual clusters of the veins known as small incision avulsion or ambulatory phlebectomy.

 

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

 

Varicose Veins 1012022-12-26T11:31:21-08:00

Meet our team of vein & vascular specialists: Dr Lucas

2022-12-26T10:58:13-08:00

Our vein and vascular specialists are not your average doctors.  They train and teach other doctors, medical students, physician assistants, and empower and educate patients everyday with knowledge and choices.  They lead clinical research studies and contribute to scientific journal and textbook publications.  Our recent research made the cover of the “Journal for Vascular Ultrasound” in March, 2018.  Our doctors continuously strive to elevate the standard in vein care- they are fellowship-trained, board certified in venous and lymphatic disease, and earned additional credentials in ultrasound interpretation to provide comprehensive vein care for all patients.

 

Sarah Lucas MD, FACS, RPVI

 Vascular Surgeon

vascular

Dr. Sarah Lucas, MD, FACS, RPVI is a board-certified vascular surgeon who has chosen to focus her practice on the care of patients with venous and lymphatic disease. She is also a diplomate of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. She is a graduate of the Duke School of Medicine and the integrated vascular surgery residency of Georgetown University Hospital and Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. She returned to Duke as a faculty member following graduation.She and her husband then relocated to Memphis, Tennessee for his pediatric surgery fellowship. During that time, she was on staff at the Memphis VA Medical Center, where she served as faculty for the vascular surgery fellowship of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Lucas and her husband are delighted to have found their permanent home in San Diego, where he is a pediatric surgeon at the Naval Medical Center.

Dr. Lucas has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and a book chapter in the field of vascular surgery. She is active in the Society for Vascular Surgery and a member of the Young Surgeons’ Committee. Dr. Lucas joined La Jolla Vein Care in 2018. In addition to her role at La Jolla Vein Care, she also manages patients with vascular wounds at the Scripps XIMED wound care clinic.

Dr. Lucas is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Surgeons who become Fellows of the College have passed a comprehensive evaluation of their surgical training and skills; they also have demonstrated their commitment to high standards of ethical conduct.

 

Peer-Reviewed Journals:Dr. Sarah Lucas

 

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

 

Meet our team of vein & vascular specialists: Dr Lucas2022-12-26T10:58:13-08:00

Meet our team of vein & vascular specialists: Dr Bunke

2022-12-26T10:53:06-08:00

Our vein specialists are not your average doctors.  They train and teach other doctors, medical students, physician assistants, and empower and educate patients everyday with knowledge and choices.  They lead clinical research studies and contribute to scientific journal and textbook publications.  Our recent research made the cover of the “Journal for Vascular Ultrasound” in March, 2018.  Our doctors continuously strive to elevate the standard in vein care- they are fellowship-trained, board certified in venous and lymphatic disease, and earned additional credentials in ultrasound interpretation to provide comprehensive vein care for all patients.

 

Nisha Bunke, MD FACPh, RPhS

Venous Disease Interventionist, Vein Clinic Medical Director

vein

Dr. Nisha Bunke was the first physician in the United States to complete fellowship training supported by the American Vein and Lymphatic Society (formerly known as the American College of Phlebology) in 2008 and is a diplomate of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Over the past decade, Dr. Bunke has dedicated her career to treating patients with venous and lymphatic conditions and advancing the field of vein care.

Being inspired by her mentor, world-renowned vascular surgeon, Dr. John Bergan, who emphasized that venous disease is a special condition that requires specialized care, she founded La Jolla Vein Care in 2010. Under her leadership, La Jolla Vein Care was awarded accreditation in Vein Clinic and Vascular Testing by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). La Jolla Vein Care is the first dedicated vein care facility in the region to earn this distinction.

Prior to turning her complete attention to La Jolla Vein Care, she has held appointments as a Volunteer Clinical Instructor of Surgery at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and Veterans (VA) Medical Center.  In addition to these duties, for five years, Dr. Bunke managed the vein clinics at the VA Medical Center La Jolla, providing vein care for our veterans.  She was also a physician at UCSD Healthcare System’s Department of Vascular Surgery, where she evaluated and treated patients with venous disease.

Dr. Bunke is a physician and scientist, actively leading clinical research studies.  In 2009, Dr. Bunke was awarded the International Union of Phlebologie Research Fellowship and the Best Young Presenter Award in Monaco.  Collectively, Dr. Bunke and Dr. Bergan were awarded the 2008 JOBST Research Award for the Advancement of Phlebology for their research on Inflammatory Biomarkers of Venous Insufficiency. Dr. Bunke also developed Recova, a post-surgery recovery cream.

Dr. Bunke has been named as a finalist by the San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award and San Diego Magazine’s Woman of the Year award.  In 2018, she was named as the top 25  Women of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal.

Dr. Bunke’s Affiliations

Moreover, Dr. Bunke is a member of the Scripps Ximed Medical Group, The Clinical and Translational Research Institute (CTRI) of the University of California San Diego (UCSD), the American Medical Association (AMA), San Diego County Medical Society, Society for Vascular Medicine, American Vein and Lymphatic Society, American Venous Forum (AVF) and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU). Dr. Bunke has numerous publications in both scientific journals and medical textbooks.

Dr. Bunke is co-editor of the most widely used textbook for vascular physicians, “The Vein Book”

vein

Books/ Book Chapters: Dr. Nisha Bunke

Bergan, JJ, Bunke, N. “Outcome Measures in Venous Disease.” In:  Fast Facts- Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Highlights 2008-09.  Davies, A., Mitchell, A. M. Health Press UK

Bergan, JJ. Bunke, N.  “Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Insufficiency.” In: Total Endovascular Series Venous Diseases Contemporary Management.’ Lumsden, A, Davies, M.

Bergan, JJ, Bunke, N.  “Venous Disorders.”  In:  Educational Review Manual in General Surgery. 8th Edition. Castle Connolly Graduate Medical Publishing.

Bergan, JJ, Bunke, N. “Pathophysiology of Chronic Venous Disease.”  In:  The European Venous Course Book.

Bergan JJ, Bunke, N. “Endovenous Procedures in Venous Disease.”  In:  Peripheral Endovascular Interventions.  White, R, Fogarty, T.  3rd Ed.

Bergan, JJ, Pascarella, L, Bunke, N. “Venous Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology.”  In: Treatment of Leg Veins, 2nd ed.  Alam, M., Silapunt, S. Martin Mellor Publishing Ltd. UK

Bergan, J. Lee, BB, Bunke N.  “Lymphatic Disease.”  In: Clinical Review of Vascular Surgery. Edited by Sapan Desai, MD, PhD and Cynthia Shortell, MD.

Bergan, J. and Bunke, N. General Considerations. In: Lymphedema: A Concise Compendium of Theory and Practice. Edited by Byung-Boong Lee, John Bergan, Stanley G. Rockson 2011.

Bergan, JJ, Bunke-Paquette, N, editors. The Vein Book, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, New York, NY USA. 2014

Bunke-Paquette, N. “Complications of Liquid Sclerotherapy.” In: The Vein Book, 2nd ed. Bergan, JJ, Bunke-Paquette, N. Oxford University Press, New York, NY USA. 2014

Loerzel, N, Ratcliff V, Bunke-Paquette, N, et al. “Ultrasound Examination of the Patient with Primary Venous Insufficiency.” In: The Vein Book, 2nd ed. Bergan, JJ, Bunke-Paquette, N. Oxford University Press, New York, NY USA. 2014

Bunke-Paquette, N, Loerzel, N, Bergan, JJ. “Ultrasound-Guided Catheter and Foam Therapy for Venous Insufficiency.’ In: The Vein Book, 2nd ed. Bergan, JJ, Bunke- Paquette, N. Oxford University Press, New York, NY USA. 2014

Bergan, JJ, Pascarella, L, Bunke-Paquette, N. “Perforating Veins.” In: The Vein Book, 2nd ed. Bergan, JJ, Bunke-Paquette, N. Oxford University Press, New York, NY USA. 2014

Bunke-Paquette, N. Russell, T, Broder, K, Li, A. “Medical Management of the Venous Leg Ulcer.” In: The Vein Book, 2nd ed. Bergan, JJ, Bunke-Paquette, N. Oxford University Press, New York, NY USA. 2014

Peer-Reviewed Journals

Bunke N, Brown K, Bergan J. Foam sclerotherapy: techniques and uses. Perspect Vasc Surg Endovasc Ther. 2009 Jun;21(2):91-3

Bunke N, Brown K, Bergan J. Phlebolymphemeda: usually unrecognized, often poorly treated. Perspect Vasc Surg Endovasc Ther. 2009 Jun;21(2):65

B.B. Lee, M. Andrade, P.L. Antignani,F. Boccardo, N. Bunke, et. al. Guidelines: Diagnosis and treatment of primary lymphedema consensus document of the international union of phlebology (IUP)-2013. International Angiology. 2013 Dec: (32): 541-574

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 


Meet our team of vein & vascular specialists: Dr Bunke2022-12-26T10:53:06-08:00
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