Winter 2010 • Vol. 10 No 1 In This Issue: Tonsillectomy Uncovers a Genetic Predisposition for Blood Clots Eighteen-year-old Caitlin Augustine found herself in the hospital right before Christmas about four years ago for a routine tonsillectomy. The surgery was uneventful and Caitlin was at home resting on the couch when her left leg started to bother her. She thought that maybe she pulled a muscle from sleeping on the couch…read more Genetic Aspects of Venous Thromboembolism Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to blood clots that develop in the deep veins of the arms or legs, referred to as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Clots that break loose and travel to the lungs are referred to as pulmonary embolism (PE). VTE may be either "provoked," such as following a surgical procedure, a long flight or with prolonged immobilization; or "spontaneous," occurring without any obvious "trigger" associated with an increased risk for VTE…read more Other featured articles: • Vascular Screenings Check for Silent Problems • Common Cardiovascular Tests • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm • Women and PAD: What You Need to Know • If You Have DVT or PAD, Your Help Is Needed! A Brief History The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF) was founded in 1998 by Dennis Newman, a pioneer in ultrasound technology. Dennis built a successful company producing Doppler devices for detecting, among other medical issues, vascular disease. Dennis knew that the public and most medical professionals were unaware of many diagnostic and treatment options for vascular disease. This lack of knowledge really hit home when his cousin lost a leg to vascular disease. Dennis did what anyone would do to help a family member; he began to contact his network of medical professionals in search of information about vascular disease. It didn't take long for him realize that few resources were available for people suffering from this often silent and most certainly debilitating disease. So, Dennis did what few are able to do, he formed the Vascular Disease Foundation. Today, Dennis serves VDF as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In our short history, we have connected with many prominent vascular medicine societies and we regularly attend their annual meetings as well as include their representatives on our Board of Directors (since 2000). Since its inception in 1998, the Vascular Disease Foundation has shown steady growth in its ability to reach out to the general public and medical professionals alike and continues to provide timely and accurate information about vascular disease. We remain your most trusted source for information on vascular disease.