Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a circulatory problem where the narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. A common symptom of PAD is leg pain when walking, which means that the legs are not receiving enough blood flow to keep up with what they need.
Diagnosing PAD
The doctor will perform one or more of the following exams to diagnose PAD.
- Physical exam
- Ultrasound
- Blood tests
- Duplex ultrasound
- Angiography
Treatment options for PAD
Doctors advise that patients with PAD quit tobacco use, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet. Treatment options include
- Bypass surgery
- Endovascular repair including angioplasty, atherectomy, and stenting
Our doctors create an individualized plan for each patient to move forward with the best treatment option.
About endovascular repair
Angioplasty with or without stenting
This process uses a balloon-tipped catheter to open a blocked blood vessel and improve blood flow. Medical imaging is used to guide the catheter to the blockage, and the balloon is inflated to open the vessel and improve blood flow. This process may be done with or without a metal mesh tube called a stent. A small, mesh-like tube that can support the artery to keep it open. The doctor will insert a catheter into the patient’s arm or leg to deliver the stent to the narrow area in the artery.
Atherectomy
This procedure cuts plaque from the wall of the artery and serves as a minimally invasive endovascular surgery and an alternative to angioplasty and stenting.