New Non-Surgical Procedure for Removal of Uterine Fibroids Offered at South Florida Vascular Associates

Uterine fibroids are tumors or growths made of smooth muscle cells and other tissue that arise within the wall of the uterus or womb. They are the most common non-cancerous tumors in women of childbearing age.

Uterine fibroids can cause painful symptoms and abnormal bleeding from the uterus. Fibroids that are located in certain parts of the uterus, such as the uterine cavity, can also make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy.

Currently the only cure for fibroids is hysterectomy, removal of the uterus.

Most women with fibroids don’t have symptoms severe enough to warrant treatment. For those who do, there are a variety of therapies which are usually selected based on a woman’s age, medical history and whether she may want to get pregnant at some point; other factors include the size and location of the fibroids.

According to an article in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, doctors are now utilizing a new way to access a woman's fibroids by entering a catheter through a woman’s wrist and treating via an arm instead of a groin artery to non-surgically shrink noncancerous growths in the muscular wall of the uterus. This method, offered at South Florida Vascular Associates is less painful and traumatic for women, allowing them to immediately sit up and move after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) with no overnight stay.

Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City studied the access treatment used by cardiologists for coronary interventions and applied it to a minimally invasive treatment for women's uterine fibroids. By flipping access for treatment from the artery in the groin to the artery in the wrist, women experienced less pain and trauma than the traditional groin technique opening the door to potential savings in health care costs. Complications related to bleeding at the puncture site are significantly reduced using this approach and patients are able to walk immediately after treatment, which dramatically improves their experience.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a nonsurgical interventional radiology treatment for women that cuts off blood flow to painful fibroids to kill the noncancerous tumors. Uterine fibroids, which affect up to 40 percent of all women 35 and older, can cause prolonged, heavy menstrual bleeding that can be severe enough to cause anemia or require transfusion; disabling pelvic pain and pressure; urinary frequency; pain during intercourse; and miscarriage. Typically, interventional radiologists have delivered treatment directly to the fibroid by threading a catheter through a woman's femoral artery in her thigh. In this new approach, doctors thread a catheter through one of two arteries in a woman's left wrist. They then made a tiny nick in the skin and inserted a catheter into the artery. Using real-time imaging, the doctor guided the catheter through the artery and then released tiny particles, the size of grains of sand, into the uterine arteries that supply blood to the fibroid tumor. This blocked the blood flow to the fibroid tumor and caused it to shrink and symptoms to subside. UFE is more desired than the traditional hysterectomy procedure that removes the entire uterus.

If you are suffering from painful fibroids, we invite you to contact our office to have a consultation with one of our board certified interventional radiologists, Dr. William Julien, Dr. Warren Swee, and Dr. Curtis Anderson. We have three office locations for your convenience. Coconut Creek, Boynton Beach, and Plantation.

March is National Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month: What You Need To Know

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT?  

DVT occurs when a blood clot forms within one of the large veins, usually in the lower leg or thigh.  The clot can then break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs and block blood flow.  This is called a pulmonary embolism.  DVT and pulmonary embolism can seriously damage the lungs and other organs and be life threatening, if not treated.

How many people are affected?

According to the American Heart Association, DVT occurs in about 2 million Americans every year.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of DVT include

• Leg swelling
• Leg pain
• Tenderness and leg warmth and redness

Are there any risk factors?

Risk factors of deep vein thrombosis may include 

• Recent surgery, especially of the leg joint or hip
• Hospitalization; trauma
• Traveling for a long distance such as a long car or airplane ride

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, contact South Florida Vascular Associates at 954-725-4141 and one of our board certified interventional radiologists will evaluate you and advise the best treatment plan for you.

Vascular Disease is #3 Killer of Women and it is Preventable

February is American Heart Month, here are some important facts about heart and vascular disease in women.


According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are women’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers and it is important to know what puts you at risk for developing these diseases.


High blood pressure causes our hearts to work harder than normal which can damage the heart and arteries over time, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Women are at risk of developing high blood pressure if they are 20 or more pounds over a healthy weight for their height and build, have a family history of high blood
pressure, take certain types of oral contraceptives, are pregnant or are age 55
or older. 


Cholesterol, a wax-like substance found in your arteries can create plaque buildup on the walls of your blood vessels which can restrict blood flow to the heart and increase your risk of clots, heart attack and stroke. Eating a healthy diet enriched with fruits,
vegetables, and protein can keep your cholesterol under control. Stay away from
foods high in saturated and trans fats which produce high levels of
cholesterol.



Being overweight and living a sedentary lifestyle can also increase one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Being more active is one of the best things you can do to improve your overall health and quality of life. Exercise helps you to maintain a healthy weight, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and can help to prevent or
control diabetes, which puts you at a higher rate of developing heart attack,
stroke and peripheral artery disease.


In addition, exercise is also important for bone health; it reduces stress and depression by increasing your hormone serotonin which is responsible for mood control, and keeps your mind sharp as you get older. 


Smoking is the top preventable cause of early death in women. Women who smoke increase their chances of developing heart disease, heart attack, stroke and peripheral artery disease. Once you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease and stroke starts to gradually drop until it is as low as a nonsmoker’s risk.


Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the always the best way to stay healthy and prevent heart and cardiovascular disease.

Hysterectomy or Uterine Artery Embolization?

One-third of American women experience some type of pelvic health disorder by the time they're 60. And about 600,000 women every year have a hysterectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the uterus and its troubling symptoms. Overall, an estimated 20 million women have had a hysterectomy.

Do you know if you have painful periods with excessive bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis, or other pelvic health problems, there are alternatives to hysterectomy?

Fibroid tumors, usually benign, are typically found on the smooth muscles of the uterus, and can cause pelvic pain, infertility, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Uterine fibroids are a major reason why women have hysterectomies, accounting for between 177,000 and 366,000 of the annual total.

At South Florida Vascular Associates we offer a procedure, Uterine artery embolization (UAE) which is a minimally invasive procedure done in our in-office operating suites that offer an alternative to traditional surgical removal (hysterectomy) of uterine fibroids. Instead of removing the uterus, the UAE technique shrinks fibroids by blocking off their blood supply. The blood supply is blocked by injecting very small particles through an image- guided catheter into the arteries that supply the fibroids. The particles stick to the vessel wall and cause a clot to develop, blocking off the blood supply. Once the blood supply is gone, the fibroids shrink and symptoms usually decrease or disappear.

 In many cases, a patient can have the UAE technique which is an outpatient procedure as opposed to a hysterectomy. UAE is minimally invasive, the recovery is much easier, less painful and no need for hospitalization. If you have been told that you need a hysterectomy, before undergoing the knife, contact our office for a consultation by one of our board certified interventional radiologists, Dr. William Julien, Dr. Warren Swee, or Dr. Curtis Anderson to evaluate your symptoms and medical history  and determine whether you are a candidate for UAE. We have 3 convenient locations Coconut Creek, Boynton Beach and Plantation.

You may be a candidate for uterine artery embolization if you experience these symptoms:
•    Anemia (low blood count) from the excessive uterine bleeding
•    Abdominal/pelvic fullness or pain
•    An enlarged uterus
•    Abnormally enlarged abdominal size
•    Infertility
•    Bladder pressure leading to a constant urge to urinate
•    Pressure on the bowel, leading to constipation and bloating
•    Pain during sexual intercourse
•    Pain in the back or legs as the fibroids press on nerves that supply the pelvis and legs

Minimally Invasive Treatments for Varicose and Spider Veins

Vein disease is said to affect nearly 50 percent of men and women in the United States. That means almost half the American population is suffering with some sort of venous condition. Luckily, we now have simple, fast and painless procedures to end your discomfort, boost your self-esteem from walking around with unsightly legs and get you back to walking around without pain.

Causes of vein disease
•     Heredity. Having a family member with prominent veins may increase the risk of you developing them.
•    Age. The normal wear and tear of aging may cause valves in the veins to weaken and not work as well.
•    Gender. Women are two to three times more likely to develop spider veins than men. Changes in hormones due to puberty, pregnancy, menopause, or taking birth control pills may increase a woman's risk of developing spider veins.
•    Overweight and obesity. Having extra weight on the body can put additional pressure on the veins.
•    Prolonged standing or sitting. This is particularly true with legs bent or crossed. When standing or sitting with legs bent or crossed, the veins have to work harder to pump the blood up to the heart.

Tired, achy and swollen legs might be symptoms of vein disease, such as varicose veins that are deeper in the legs. Not only are varicose veins unpleasant to look at, they can also become a serious problem so if you have varicose veins it is important for you to have a vascular doctor look at them to prevent more serious complications.

Spider and varicose veins are the result of trapped blood in the veins and are essentially visible signs of vein disease, whether or not you experience other symptoms. They don’t usually present a problem on their own, but there may be a more serious problem lurking. Poor circulation, blood clots and deep vein thrombosis are just a few of the conditions that may or may not cause symptoms, but can worsen over time and become life-threatening if they’re left untreated.

Most procedures available to you these days are minimally invasive, which means they’re fast and convenient. Treatments are done in our office and usually take under 1 hour. There is little, if any, down time, so depending on the treatment you need, you can have treatment during your lunch hour and return to work. Additionally, your insurance provider may cover some of costs of your treatment. One of our board certified endovascular surgeons will work with you to create a personalized plan of action for treating your veins.

Contact South Florida Vascular Associates today and ask about Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) for varicose veins and  sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins. You will be happy you did!

Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Make a Big Difference When it Comes to Preventing Blocked Arteries

Blocked arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, can have serious effects on the entire body, but fortunately, if you pay close attention to risk factors, dietary factors and exercise, you can potentially prevent this from happening.

Atherosclerosis is the process by which the artery lining becomes hardened and develops plaque buildup that eventually leads to obstruction of normal blood flow through the arteries to the extremities causing peripheral artery disease, PAD.

Coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the United States, occurs when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. More than 7 million Americans die each year from CAD.

About 10 million Americans have PAD, a condition that puts them at four to five times higher risk of heart attack or stroke. In PAD, narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, often the legs, but can also affect arteries that carry blood from the heart to the head, arms, kidneys and stomach.
Symptoms can be silent

Atherosclerosis in general can be difficult to diagnose because well over 50 percent of people with coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease have no symptoms.

Diagnosis can be made in several ways. If a patient has two or more risk factors, a stress test might be ordered. Vascular studies may be done to look for reduced blood flow in the neck or leg. In addition, if you are a smoker, stop smoking now. If you are diabetic be sure to eat properly and manage your statin medication to reduce cholesterol. And exercise, exercise, exercise! Exercise is one of the best “medicines” to maintain a healthy body.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:
•    Smoking
•    Diabetes
•    Being older than age 75
•    High blood pressure or high cholesterol
•    Obesity
•    A family history of heart disease

SFVA Is Awarded AvMed’s Medicare High Performance Network for 2014

AvMed Medicare Members Benefit by Lower or No Co-payment for Medical Services


South Florida Vascular Associates is pleased to announce that they have been awarded AvMed’s Medicare High Performance Network (HPN) for 2014. This high performance program compares physicians and groups of similar specialties who meet or exceed AvMed’s quality of care and cost efficiency criteria. The HPN award is in recognition of our exemplary performance in areas such as proper insurance coding, cost efficiencies or other clinical patient care standards.

One major benefit of achieving this award is the ability to offer AvMed members a lower or no co-payment for medical services. AvMed members who visit non- HPN designated providers will incur higher co-payments. The award will remain in place until 2016.

We thank our AvMed medicare patients for chosing our practice and we look forward to providing you with high quality medical care for many years to come.

William Julien, MD
Warren Swee, MD, MPH
Curtis Anderson, MD, PhD