Dr. Kas's Journey to Venous Medicine
My journey into the field of venous and lymphatic disease started in residency. I spent a great deal of time considering the type of impact I hoped to have on my patients.
I Care Deeply About My Patients Well-being
I remember an eye-opening encounter with one patient who had come to my clinic complaining of lower leg redness and swelling that had been ongoing for as long as he could remember. Even though these symptoms had continued to worsen with time, he was sent hopelessly from one specialist to another without finding any answers. A cardiologist performed an echocardiogram and told him “your heart looks fine, just put your feet up.” Another doctor recommended that he try taking water pills, but this only made him need to use the restroom more often.
Finally, this patient approached me and said, “Dr. Kasinadhuni, is there anything you can do to stop my legs from feeling this way? I can’t continue to go on like this.” Luckily, a colleague of mine was a vascular specialist and knew exactly how to help. After six months had passed, I saw the same patient for a follow-up. Simply put, he looked like a new man. “I feel like I’m walking on air. I have my legs back and nothing can stop me now, Dr. Kasinadhuni,” said my patient.
The patient’s renewed sense of optimism for his future inspired me that day. This is the type of impact I wanted to have on my patients—the kind that is long-lasting and life-changing.
Participating in Vein Related Events Outside of Work
Having connected with industry experts, I found myself presenting a research topic on venous cancer at the American Venous and Lymphatic Society’s national conference. It was here that I first felt the Center for Vein Restoration’s (CVR) impact and authority. Between their network of top doctors and variety of patient cases, I knew that CVR was the best place for me to train. It wasn’t long afterward that my wife and I found ourselves leaving a small town in Ohio and venturing out to the bustling east coast. The transition was life-altering.
Looking Back on My Fellowship
Starting my fellowship, I had one goal in mind: to become an expert in vein disease. I knew that taking the initiative and being a team player was critical. Everyone in the clinic had a role to play, and it was my job to blend right in and learn about each process, from scanning and diagnosing to performing procedures. My mornings would usually start off with a new patient consultation. One of the most important elements of these consultations was the ultrasound scan. A good scan would ensure that we mapped out all the veins and identified the ones that were causing symptomatic disease. Sometimes, these brought about other incidental findings, like chronic DVTs, reactive lymph nodes, or baker’s cysts, and this would help us to create a broader differential diagnosis and take a more comprehensive approach to treatment.
The most gratifying cases were the ones where I was able to restore a patient’s ability to walk and function independently. The journey was challenging. We had long days, stubborn veins, difficult to manage edema—yet every patient encounter was extremely rewarding.
As the end of my fellowship approached, the knowledge that I had accumulated extended far beyond just vein disease. I learned that compassion and comfort were just as integral as the technical prowess that I had initially hoped to attain. Seeing and participating in thousands of cases taught me that a great deal of humanity is required to treat vein and lymphatic disease.
Today, I have the wonderful privilege of restoring a patient’s limb functionality. This fills me with great pride, since not only does it help the patient in the short-term, but it also has a profoundly positive impact on their long-term wellbeing. You can learn more about me at The Center for Vein Restoration’s Website.