Dr. John Ricotta
Vascular Surgery
washigton, DC
50 years experience male
Locations
Office
washigton, DC
About
Bio
WE are committed to comprehensive evaluation of our patient's vascular conditions in an outpatient setting. We emphasize non invasive and minimally invasive treatment options. Our recommendations are made with each individual's needs and expectations in mind and are coordinated with the his/her other physicians. With an in office vascular laboratory we can usually provide a diagnostic plan in a single setting.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Vascular Surgery
Licenses
United States: District Of Columbia, Maryland
Languages spoken
English, Italian, Russian
Doctor Q&A
111 Answers
40 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Unlikely: While there has been a lot of interest in relating symptoms of ED to vascular insufficiency the causes of ED are very complex and it is very unusual ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: THis is usually true when it involves nerve compression rather than compression of blood vessels. Nerves can be damaged during surgery or scarring can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Collaterals: Without a procedure such as a bypass or an angioplasty there are only two things that can do this.
One is dissolution of a blood clot restoring normal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Maybe a warning: A tortuous aorta is one that is not straight( the normal condition ) but does not contain and aneurysm. This may occur normally in older people or th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Needs.follow.up : The vast majority of lung cancer is linked to exposure to tobacco either active or passive while.it is reassuring that you have never smoked you will ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
It is a "sore": A leg ulcer is a break in the skin that is usually painful and tender. Ulcers around the ankle are usually from disease of veins, on the foot or toes ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Can be helpful: This syndrome, which is most common in people who do a lot of leg exercising, can be helped by fasciotomy, however the diagnosis is not easy and requi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Results pretty good: There has been a lot of progress made in the coiling of aneurysms in the last 5-10 years I assume this aneurysms is in your brain. Coiling is now the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not.to worry: Decreased vascularity is a very nonspecific comment increased vascularity may suggest excess fluid or cardiac dysfunction
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not usually: There was a lot of interest in this treatment many years ago but results were not up to expectations. The number of patients helped by this type of pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not usually: D-Dimer is a very sensitive (overly sensitive) test for clotting. IF it is persistently negative the risk of a clot is less than 5%. However it also m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Pain management: Results of surgery vary by presenting problems there is a.significant persistence of symptoms when the initial problem is nerve compression repeat su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 66-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not related: THe two problems are not related. A tortuous aorta tht is not enlarged significantly is not a great concern. In general there is nothing to worry abou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Is it bothering you?: Hemangiomas are generally observed unless they cause symptoms. IF they are on the skin they can be treated with laser or even injections. I would see ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not blood clots: NEGATIVE ULTRASOUND MAKES DVT VERY UNLIKELY HOAWVER THERE ARE MANY OTHER CAUSES OF LEG PAIN INCLUDONG MUSCLE PAIN OR STRAIN. BINE OR JOINT PROBLEMS, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: This is a relatively rare operation that should be done by someone with experience. Results are best when the compression is of an artery or vein, les... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: Heart murmurs that involve the aortic valve can often be confused with a carotid bruit. About half of all people who have a bruit in the neck have car... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Depends on the type: Coumadin (warfarin) is effective in preventing stroke from blood clots that originate in the heart. These can be from atrial fibrillation, clot on a h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not specifically: The ultrasound is normal for age. Elevated homocysteine alone is not a great risk factor for plaque progression. Control Blood pressure, cholesterol,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Ignore: Keep hands and feet warm avood dry cracked skin,.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
All are abnormal: Varicose veins come from a problem with vein valves that causes blood to stagnate. They can cause pain, heaviness after prolonged standing, and occas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Ignore: DO watch your diet, control blood preasure, take an aspirin daily, exercise regularly. DONT SMOKE.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Would look elsewhere: D dimer is very sensitive
'there are many causes of leg pain
a venous ultrasound is the best test to be sure
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Several: Upper limb amputation is unusual and can be performed at many levels: finger, below elbow, above elbow and shoulder. where it is performed is determin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
No they dont: Yu stated the issue correctly. Anticoagulants themselves do not increase the risk of rupture, only the amount of bleeding if rupture occurs. This may ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Maybe: palpitations or irregular heart rhythm may be associated with PE but are also associated with may other things , many of which are benign. Usually th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Depends: You can walk and it would bs helpful if your varicoaw.veina bother you. A dopple.is the first Step in dwcidong treatment however if they are not bothe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Tough problem: Staining after sclerotherapy or from.venous hypertension Is hard to treat not aware of.anything that is great some.luck with laser
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: Both work well for patients who are in danger of losing their leg. Angioplasty is better for short occlusions , bypass with vein better for more exten... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Often normal: This may occur after exercise or prolonged standing . See a vascular surgeon to be sure you do not have venous Insufficiency
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Possibly: If this persists more than 24 hours see someone and stay away from.walls they hurt you more than you can hurt them
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Might: These medicines work best withuld to moderate obstrctuon ( cicrulation 50% or better) when it is worse or.when there is an ulcer or pain at rest they... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Very important: This group of drugs (statins) works in two ways, lowering cholesterol and decreasing arterial inflammation There are many studies that statins reduce ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Consider Raynaud's: This may be Raynaud's syndrome. This is often a benign condition, that is uncomfortable but poses no danger of gangrene. However it may be associated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
May be decades: mechanical valves are the most durable of all heart valves. The "biological valves" or "tissue valves" usually last a decade or so but have the advan... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Tough one: most of the test for PE involve either IV dye or radiation or both
Venous ultrasound can look for clots in the legs - if negative that is a good sign... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Follow.up: Important.quetions include any family history, location of aneurysm, smokong history If.this.is.in.the aorta.it should be followed was it discovered ?
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not treatment: Integrillin is something used DURING treatment of Coronary disease by angioplasty to prevent clots. IT is not usually a first line drug and is only us... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Reimaging required: To tell this you would need to have a reevaluation by imaging ( CT or MR most likely). Whether this is done after on or multiple treatments will depen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
You can see it: A good CT with contrast will allow you to see "soft plaque" The real.question is why you arrvlooking "soft plaque " are you having symptoms? You are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
IN GENERAL TERMS YES: In general the answer is yes at some point you should be seen by someone for evaluation if possible since the degree of disability is relatedto how se... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Yes if chronic: if this is chronic then you can wear support as long as it doesn't hurt. Question is why you have chronic superficial phlebitis. You should see someon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Lots of ?s: Varicose veins are caused by weak or damaged valves they are made worse by xs weight, prolonged standing and age whule support atckings will help symp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 73-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Normal after surgery: A slight lump is normal for several weeks and up to a month after carotid surgery. If you have no other complaints and are swallowing without problems... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: There are many causes of leg pain and DVT is only one. D-Dimer is not sensitive enough to exclude all blood clots and it does not evaluate for venous ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Very common: Varicose veins are one of the most common vascular conditions. They occur in people who stand a lot, can be inherited, and can cause problems over tim... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Talk to your doctor: The findings you report indicate that the heart is pumping blood efficiently and that there is not a lot of plaque in the coronary arteries. However c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not high: I am not sure what you mean by "asa". Small ASDs can be asymptomatic. Your risk of embolism will depend on the size of your heart and whether there ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Not likely: depends on the quality of the scan and the size of the AVM but this is an excellent test to identify AVM in the brain
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. John Ricottaanswered
Vascular Surgery 50 years experience
Why so many tests?: sounds like you need to talk with your physician about what is bothering you that is causing all these test to be done D dimer is very non specific, t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
107
Thank you notes
Mar 26, 2016
I am a thoracic surgeon. Dr John Ricotta performed surgery for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome for my wife Karen in 1995 and ALL of her symptoms resolved and she has never had a problem since. I w...Read More
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Ricotta is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Ricotta is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you i was having trouble finding someone who could tell me 2 years out what to look for. I am glad to hear this is more common than i thought
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! It seems like any doctor with any MD degree is selling varicose vein treatments. At least, this is the situation with ads in south Florida.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Possible lymphocele aspirated today and sent to pathology. He will follow up with ortho and radiology next week if drain can be placed.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD
Graduated 1973MD
Medical/Graduate school
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Graduated 1973MD
Residency
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Awards
Top Vascular Surgeon , Third Place, National - Fall
2014
Top Vascular Surgeon, First Place, National - Spring
2015
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
Society for Vascular Surgery
International Society of Surgery
Publications
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