More than 40 world experts are tackling controversies about treatments of vascular diseases, including the issue of blood clots in the legs when a person flies, this week at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Big Island. Vascular surgeons convening
on Big Isle to discuss
venous diseases
By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com"We will open up the conference with all the controversies in the field," said Bo Eklof, medical director of Straub Foundation and a professor of surgery at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.
About 200 national and international vascular surgeons and other health professionals are expected to attend the Pacific Vascular Symposium on "Venous Disease: The Aggressive Approach," organized by the foundation.
The five themes will include acute venous thromboembolism (clotting), air-travel- related venous thromboembolism, chronic venous disease, diagnosis of chronic venous disease and varicose veins.
Venous diseases involve problems that occur in veins, such as varicose veins, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations.
He said one theme will be discussed each day with world specialists debating the issues.
Concerning blood clots in the legs, for example, Eklof said: "I will represent a very aggressive approach in trying to get rid of it as soon as possible. An opponent from Canada will take a conservative approach."
Discussions also will cover the newest developments in the five vascular disease areas, case studies and "where we go from here," Eklof said.
He has been interviewed twice on the CBS show "48 Hours Investigates" about the issue of blood clots in the legs when a person flies.
The World Health Organization invited him among other experts to discuss the issue at a meeting in March of last year.
