 Duan
A. Drakes, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.C. is a Board Certified Cardiovascular
and Thoracic Surgeon practicing in the Washington, D.C. area since 1986.
His office is located at 1160 Varnum St., NE Suite 215, Washington, DC.
and he specializes in non-surgical treatment of vericose veins.
Dr. Drakes is a 1979 graduate of Howard University College of Medicine.
He completed his training in General Surgery at Howard University Hospital
in 1984 and completed additional training in Cardiovascular and Thoracic
Surgery in 1986 at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton Alberta,
Canada. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American
Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He is a member of the Society
of Thoracic Surgeons, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and
a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
He has served as Chief Surgeon in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at
the District of Columbia General Hospital, from 1987 - 1992 and as Chief
of Cardiac Surgery at Howard University Hospital from 1995-1998.
 Dr. Drakes is highly skilled in treatments to improve cardiovascular functioning;
Lung Cancer; Surgery for Disease of the Esophagus; including Cancer; Dialysis & Chemotherapy.
He has been very successful in performing Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
- Video Assisted Surgery, Bronchoscopy/Rigid & Flexible, and Peripheral
Arterial Diseases (PAD) Surgery For Blocked Arteries and Varicose
Veins).
Dr. Drakes is keenly aware of the impact of excessive weight on the
health of his clients. Therefore, he has incorporated a very successful
weight loss program that is designed to improve cardiovascular functioning
and the body’s overall health therefore decreasing the need for
more invasive treatments. He pays attention to all the little things,
because he knows they make a big difference to his patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is peripheral Arterial disease?
This refers to diseases of blood vessels outside the heart and brain.
It's often a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms,
stomach or kidneys. There are two types of these circulation disorders:
 Functional peripheral vascular diseases don't have an organic cause. They don't
involve defects in blood vessels' structure. They're usually
short-term effects related to "spasm" that may come and go.
Raynaud's disease is an example. It can be triggered by cold temperatures,
emotional stress, working with vibrating machinery or smoking.
Organic peripheral
vascular diseases are caused by structural changes in the blood vessels,
such as inflammation and tissue damage. Peripheral
artery disease is an example. It's caused by fatty buildups in arteries
that block normal blood flow.
How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed and treated?
Techniques used to diagnose PAD include a medical history, physical exam,
ultrasound, X-ray angiography and magnetic resonance imaging angiography
(MRA).
Most people with PAD can be treated with lifestyle changes, medications
or both. Lifestyle changes to lower your risk include:
 Stop smoking (smokers have a particularly strong risk of PAD).
Control diabetes.
Control blood pressure.
Be physically active (including a supervised exercise program).
Eat a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is a new kind of surgery which is becoming
more and more common. It also known as 'endoscopic surgery'. With this
method, the surgical operation is performed with the help of a small
endoscopic camera and several long, thin, rigid instruments, through
natural body openings or small artificial incisions called keyhole
surgery'.
What are the advantages of MIS to the patient?
Lower risk
of infection
Fewer medications
Less pain
and scarring
Quicker
recovery
Shorter hospital stay
How Does minimally invasive thoracic surgery work?
Minimally invasive thoracic surgery allows the performance of diagnostic
and surgical procedures in the chest cavity utilizing small incisions
and specially-adapted, videoendoscopic instruments. Thoracoscopy refers
to insertion of a narrow tube called an endoscope through a tiny camera
or a viewing mirror through a small incision in the chest wall. Many
procedures which were previously performed with larger incisions can
now be done thoracoscopically, with comparable results.
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