Peripheral Vascular Disease

Unfortunately the most common symptom is no symptom or silent with approx 50% of all patients not having any symptoms and only 12% of patient have the “classic” Symptom of claudication which is pain in buttock, calf or leg that worsens with walking and resolves with rest.

Risk factors for PAD include Age >65, Diabetes, HTN, Known CAD, tobacco abuse history and also Kidney failure. The evaluation is simply done with an Ankle Brachial index that compares BP in arms to legs, By Ultrasound which is non-invasive functional and anatomical evaluation of the vessels, and by angiograms. The Angiogram can be done either non-invasively via a CT angiogram that allows mapping of the vessels or invasively with an angiogram the allows for diagnosis of blocked vessels. We typically defer the invasive angiogram until a blockage on CT scan looks severe enough to require being fixed.

Fixing vessels has truly evolved over the last decade. We are now able to fix both large and small vessels in the legs. The procedure for fixing vessels is called an Angiogram with intervention. The type of interventional procedure varies depending upon the location of disease, severity of disease and symptos associated with the disease.

We do the procedure in the outpatient setting approx 95% of time. We treat one leg at a time. The day of the procedure we will have you come to our out patient facility. Our Experienced and compassionate nursing staff will get you settled and have you change into a gown, and obtain your vitals. We will place an IV and the also obtain some basic medical information.

We will then have you taken into the procedure room. Your groin area which is the location anterior to your hip bones on both sides will be cleaned and prepped. We will then start the procedure and give medications to help you feel comfortable and relaxed.

During the procedure you will be comfortable. You will not have any pain. When we visualize your vessels, you may feel a warm rush in your leg. Otherwise that is all.

After the procedure we will have you lie comfortably for 2 hrs and then go home from 2 to 4 hrs after the procedure depending upon what type of procedure you have.