Locations
Carolina Vascular
Raleigh, NC
My office hours
Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
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Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
Medicaid
Medicare
About
Bio
I am a board-certified Vascular Surgeon practicing in Raleigh, North
Carolina. I am originally from Massachusetts.
I trained in General Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital in
Boston, MA. I trained in Vascular Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, Minnesota.
I was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Temple University Hospital in
Philadelphia, PA for (6) years; I was Director of the Endovascular
Surgery Program. I received (3) distinct awards for Teaching Excellence
I moved to Raleigh, NC in 2003 to join Carolina Vascular
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
Doctor Q&A
87 Answers
44 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Dilation: Ntg dilates your blood vessels (i.e. Makes them bigger).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Yes: Hbot is safe in patients with AAA - the AAA should be monitored by a vascular surgeon to determine if it needs to be repaired.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Avoid heavy lifting: Heavy lifting or straining leads to increased blood pressure - this can put pressure on the inside of the aaa.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
6-12 weeks: Most "dissolvable" sutures are made of polyglycolic acid...Takes 2-3 months to dissolve.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Raynauds: Possibly raynaud's phenomenon or raynaud's syndrome - in a nutshell, blood vessel spasm alternating with dilation (hands can be red, white or blue in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Vascular Surgeon: Don't let the name scare you...Vascular surgeons (unlike cardiologists and radiologists) are trained in all aspects of PVD management (not just surger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Blood vessels: Vascular problems are related to blood vessels (blood flow, blood clots, hardening of the arteries etc).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Reduce pressure: Varicose veins are caused by venous valve dysfunction which leads to venous hypertension (elevated pressure in the veins). Compression stockings reduc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
No: A small amount of vitamin e oil on a scar is ok.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Blood flow: Reversible ischemia means that an area of your heart muscle is not getting adequate blood flow (at times) but then the blood flow "catches up" (i.e. R... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Vein valves: Once you have had clots in the veins, the valves are often "messed up" even though the clot is gone. Swelling is common...Wear your stockings daily. C... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Irritation: Blood cells outside the vascular system cause inflammation and pain...Should resolve with time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
See below: Generally (unless you are dieting), carbs represent approximately 30% - 50% of your caloric intake. Complex carbs must be broken down to simple carbs ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Many reasons: Some people are just prone to prominent veins, but others may have an underlying vein problem. Would recommend seeing a vascular surgeon in your area.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Range of symptoms: Mild blockage may cause no symptoms. Moderate blockage can lead to muscle cramps when walking or exercising. Severe blockage can lead to constant pain... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Tough Q: Difficult to diagnose or rule out DVT without an ultrasound.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Xray: Ap = front to back picture
lateral = side-to-side picture.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
'Cloudy': A pneumonia can appear like a dense cloud on an xray or can appear as a difuse 'grainy' process - this is a very brief answer that can't possibly desc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
No: Alcohol is a vasodilator...Just the opposite!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Controversial: The science is questionable, but I have had trigger point injections with success (was it real or in my head - who knows).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
U/S: Start with a duplex scan of the popliteal space - it will identify any venous or arterial disease (also, baker's cysts can be detected).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Yes: Painful varicose veins should be evaluated by a vascular surgeon...Treatments nowadays are much less invasive than the old days of vein strppings.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
No: See your doctor...You don't want to take the risk of the infection spreading into your upper urinary tract.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Yes: Try to drink as much as you can to avoid dehydration. 1 liter of fluid = 1 kilogram of body weight = 2.2 lbs. If your weight decreases by 2 lbs, your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Avoid high sodium: High sodium foods increase water retention and can raise blood pressure. It's okay occasionally if your kidney function is normal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Venous congestion: The DVT may be causing the veins in the arm to become congestion due to "back up" of venous blood flow. He should stay on blood thinners, elevate the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 67-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Lots: Lots of good safe choices...Sulfa drugs, quinolones etc. See your doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
It depends...: Lymph nodes less than 1 cm in size are usually not concerning. Smokers are at increased risk of lung cancer. See your doctor and follow this lymph nod... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 65-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Yes: Muscle atrophy is common after surgery due to lack of exercise. Ease back slowly using the muscles again.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Bad sprain: Sounds like a bad sprain or tear (discoloration implies bleeding or bruising)...Go back to your orthopedist for a re-check.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
See below: There can be blood in the alveoli (air cells).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Many things: Inflammation of the lymph nodes (infection, cancer etc) and lead to enlargement of the nodes and their appearance on xray
see your doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
No: Swollen ankles and feet can be due to fluid overload (among other conditions) - the opposite of dehydration.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Sometimes: Smoking can lead to hyperinflation of the lungs (COPD) and other patterns consistent with cigarette use. However, some longtime smokers can have norma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Possible infection: Leukocytes can mean infection; protein in the urine is not normal - see your internist for a urinalysis, culture and full evaluation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
See below: 'hardening of the arteries' means that calcium is deposited in the wall of the artery. This calcium can sometimes appear on x-ray and can indicate 'b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
No answer: Dvt is treated with blood thinners. If you are taking therapeutic blood thinners, you are probably ok. The exception would be patients with a large am... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Sometimes: Some people just have prominent veins. However, it would be best to make sure that there isn't another reason for your prominent veins (e.g. Clot). Se... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
See detailed answer: Psv = peak systolic velocity (i.e. Speed of blood flow); elevated psv can indicate narrowing
ica/cca ratio is another way of assessing narrowing - ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Anti-inflammatory: A potent anti-inflammatory (like advil (ibuprofen) except stronger).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Yes...see below: Arteries and veins behave differently. Arterial disease (i.e. Hardening of the arteries) does not resolve when one adopts a healthier lifestyle (e.g. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Cholesterol: Cholesterol deposits can "break off" from arteries in the heart, chest or neck and travel to the retinal artery. These plaques can be seen by an eye s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
No: Plaque and calcium build-up in arteries is generally permanent - however, healthy habits can prevent progression of the disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Anticoagulation: Generally speaking...Blood thinners. But a comprehensive answer can only be provided with detailed knowledge of your medical history. See your interni... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Protein recs: Generally speaking, the body needs a minimum of 1 gram of protein per kg of body weight per day. So a 70 kg (approx 150 lb) person needs 70 g of prote... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Heart problem usu: Irreversible ischemia means that an area of your body is not getting blood flow (and can't get blood flow). When it refers to the heart, it likely mea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
See below: Xrays pass through the 'least dense' tissues (i.e. Air) and the film is black
bone is the most dense and appears white
all other tissues are som... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old male asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Costochondritis: This type of pain is usually benign - typically a pulled intercostal muscle or costochondritis. More serious conditions include pneumonia or pulmonary... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Steve Kagananswered
Vascular Surgery 33 years experience
Stockings: Medical grade compression stockings (properly fitted and measured) can provide decent relief of vv symptoms. Try them for 90 days and then see a vascu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
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.
2
Recommendations
136
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Kagan is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Kagan is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank you for your answer. I use to be very physically active, slowed down since my heart surgery. Not as active.
HealthTap member
Ty and yes I am I have had 5 pe's im being tested for sle pulmonary hypertension and thrombophillia now it has been scary and hard to deal w
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank you so much I will call my doctor ASAP
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA
Graduated 1990MD
Residency
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
Awards
Wallace P. Ritchie Award Temple University 2001
W. Emory Burnett Award for Teaching Excellence Temple University Hospital 1997
Hewlett Packard Award for Academic Excellence University of Massachusetts Medical School 1990
Affiliations
Society for Vascular Surgery
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