Peripheral Artery Disease

Freedom from Leg Cramps and Swelling

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, often leading to pain and mobility issues. Treating PAD can improve circulation, reduce symptoms like leg pain and cramping, and significantly enhance overall quality of life by enabling better physical activity and preventing complications.

Symptoms of PAD

What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?

Nearly 10 million people in the United States alone suffer from peripheral artery disease (PAD), also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or leg artery disease. This condition occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the legs are partially or completely blocked. The primary cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, a disorder in which fatty plaque accumulates along an artery’s walls, restricting blood flow to the extremities. This plaque, composed of fats, cholesterol, and other substances, forms a hard residue on the artery lining. As a result, patients experience leg pain during exercise, when there is an increased demand for blood in the leg muscles. As the condition progresses, the pain may persist even at rest. Ultimately, patients may develop non-healing ulcers on the legs, which can lead to the need for amputation. Less frequent causes of PAD include blood clotting disorders and other abnormalities of the blood vessels.

Risk Factors For Peripheral Artery Disease

While PAD is a common condition, with certain people are at a greater risk than others. Risk factors include:

  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Physical inactivity
  • Chronic renal failure
  • Obesity (body mass index over 30)
  • High cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Age and family history of heart disease

Diagnosing Peripheral Artery Disease

PAD can be diagnosed painlessly via a routine physical with our seasoned medical staff. Noninvasive tests, including ankle-brachial index (ABI) and doppler ultrasound, may also be utilized to help in making a diagnosis.

If the ultrasound suggests that there is notable narrowing or blockage of the leg arteries, an angiogram may be recommended as the next diagnostic test. In this procedure, a thin catheter is inserted into the arteries of the legs and contrast dye (“x-ray dye”) is injected.  Pictures are then taken of those blood vessels. The specific location of the narrowings or blockages can be pinpointed, and a treatment plan can be created based on the findings. At FII, we carefully craft a treatment plan with the input of the patient (as well as their family when appropriate).

What Treatments Are Avaiable For Peripheral Artery Disease?

Angioplasty
(With Stent)

Angioplasty involves using a small, thin balloon at the end of a catheter to open up a narrowing of the artery.  Stent placement may be used with angioplasty; this involves a thin wire mesh tube that props open an artery to prevent it from closing again.

Artherectomy

A minimally invasive procedure that removes plaque from blood vessels, such as arteries afflicted by peripheral artery disease, using a laser or rotating blades (like a robo-rootor) on a catheter. This widens the interior canal of the artery, allowing blood to flow more freely throughout the legs.

Thrombolytic Medications

Thrombolytic medications, also known as “clot-busting drugs,” are enzymes that breakdown blood clots.  Thrombolytics can be given via IV or a catheter inserted at the site of the clot. They work quickly to restore blood flow and limit damage from oxygen deprivation.

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