![\"Eliseo](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Bonilla-3-with-husband.jpg\")
<\/a>Newlywed Eliseo Bonilla, 50, of Willimantic knows all too well the severe pain and danger of a deep vein thrombosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have developed more than 20 DVTs in my life,\u201d says Bonilla, who was 16 when he first experienced the symptoms of the condition: severe pain, extreme swelling\u00a0\u2013 his leg doubled in size, and development of painful varicose veins in his left leg. \u201cIt would cause such severe pain to the point where I couldn\u2019t even walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonilla\u2019s risk of leg blockages in his left leg are thought to stem from being born with a deformity that caused his left leg to be one inch shorter than his right and from the compression of a vein in his pelvis by the enlarged artery, or aneurysm, that he was born with. This rare abnormality, May-Thurner Syndrome, has also hindered venous blood from flowing back up to his heart.<\/p>\n
In Puerto Rico, he was treated for his aneurysm, and also had bypass graft surgery for a blocked artery in his left thigh, but it became blocked again only a year later, causing him to live with daily pain from swelling and while walking, due to arterial and venous insufficiency in his left leg.<\/p>\n
This winter, his condition became more severe: the arterial blood flow in his leg started to diminish\u00a0significantly, and his leg swelling and varicose veins became so severe that his leg and foot were becoming purple and almost black in color.<\/p>\n
His new groom and partner for many years, Lesme Valentin, turned to UConn to seek medical help for his husband.<\/p>\n
Cardiologist Dr. Agnes Kim at UConn Health Storrs Center immediately referred Bonilla to Dr. JuYong Lee, an interventional cardiologist and director of vascular and endovascular medicine at UConn Health\u2019s Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center in Farmington.<\/p>\n
Using angiography and intravascular ultrasound, Lee was able to confirm that Mr. Bonilla had occlusion of his large vein in his pelvis caused by compression of his enlarged artery, and also found the failure of his prior leg artery graft. He was able to successfully perform two complex, minimally invasive procedures to the artery and vein failure sequentially, using first a clot-busting medication to unclog the clots, then stents to keep his chronically occluded leg artery bypass graft open, and also implanted a large stent into his pelvis\u2019 vein to restore healthy venous blood flow.<\/p>\n
Lee says it’s important for anyone experiencing unusual leg pain, swelling, varicose vein, or deep vein thrombosis symptoms\u00a0\u2013 especially if they surface after traveling long distances, following a post-surgical procedure, or resting from illness \u2013 to seek medical care.<\/p>\n
Blockages in the legs appear to be linked with blockages in the arteries of the heart: those with peripheral arterial disease, or blockages in leg arteries, have a 30 percent higher chance of having blockages mirrored in their heart\u2019s arteries, and should be assessed by a cardiologist.<\/p>\n
To prevent future blood clots in his vein and artery, Bonilla takes a daily aspirin, blood thinner medication, and a cholesterol-lowering medication.<\/p>\n
He and his husband are very grateful for his swift medical care at UConn Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very lucky, because otherwise I might have had to have part of my leg amputated,\u201d Bonilla says. \u201cNow I don\u2019t feel pain any more, and the swelling and poor coloring of my lower leg is getting back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonilla is looking forward to getting back to walking and exercising to lose the extra weight he gained from the flare up of his leg condition \u2013 and also to fully enjoying married life.<\/p>\n
His message to others experiencing similar leg pain, artery blockages, or blood clots? \u201cCome see Dr. Lee!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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