Arterial Treatments
Peripheral Arterial Disease – Treatment
The treatment for the peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has two main goals. One is to manage the symptoms, including leg pain, allowing you to resume your normal physical activities. The second one is to top the progression of atherosclerosis in the body, which reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.
The good news is that through early intervention, you can achieve these goals through lifestyle changes. Quitting smoking is one of the most significant things you can do to stop the progression of Pad. Walking and exercising regularly following supervised exercise training can improve your symptoms. However, if your peripheral artery disease is at an advanced stage, you will need additional medical treatment. Here are some of the standard peripheral artery disease treatment options available.
Atherectomy
A lower extremity atherectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure involving a catheter to remove plaque from arteries. The doctor usually makes a small incision in the artery to insert the catheter. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia to prevent pain. A catheter collects removed plaque in a chamber placed at its tip, ensuring that all the particles are removed from the artery. Depending on the amount of plaque in your arteries, your doctor will repeat the procedure several times to ensure optimal blood flow.
The primary goal for the atherectomy is to eliminate plaque buildup in the artery. You may need this procedure when your arteries become too narrowed or blocked due to increased plaque. When the arteries are blocked, blood flow is restricted, meaning that your tissues will not have sufficient oxygen and nourishment they need to survive. Insufficient blood flow causes the muscle in your feet to cramp and lose strength.
The procedure is not ideal for all people. Before performing the procedure, doctors at Pedes Orange county start by doing a detailed evaluation. The procedure is also customized to meet the patient’s unique needs.
We usually perform the procedure in our facility. Our board of certified doctors has undergone rigorous training to ensure the best possible results. We also have a state-of-the-art facility with modern atherectomy tools that ensure success even for complex conditions. Our doctors also have a vast wealth of experience in this field. Having performed thousands of atherectomy procedures is sure that you are in the right hands.
A few days before the procedure, the doctor usually performs a pre-procedure test to ensure that it is safe for you to undergo the procedure. The doctor may recommend discontinuation of using certain medications days before the procedure. Our health care team will also provide you with specific instructions that will help you prepare for the procedure.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia with a mild sedative that is given intravenously. The doctor will make a small incision and insert the catheter with a sharp blade on the tip. With the help of imaging technology, the doctor will push the catheter until the blade reaches the area blocked by the plaque. Here the surgeon will scrape away all the plaque to restore blood flow.
The procedure itself does not take that long. The doctor will have cleared the plaque in two hours, although this will depend on each patient’s specific condition. However, the preparation and recovery time will add several hours. Immediately after the procedure, you will need to lie flat for about 3-6 hours.
Atherectomy is a minimally invasive surgery. As such, recovery does not take a long time. You can begin your normal activities within a few days. The doctor will also give you specific guidelines for your recovery.
Angioplasty
Also called percutaneous transluminal Angioplasty (PTA), Angioplasty is a medical procedure performed using a catheter. A catheter is usually a thin, flexible tube inserted through an artery and guided by imaging to the narrowed section of the artery. Once the tip of the catheter reaches the narrowed section, the small balloon at the end inflates for a short period. The pressure created by the inflated balloon usually presses the plaque against the artery wall. This procedure will help to widen the arteries, restoring normal blood flow.
Stenting
Stenting is a procedure that is performed in combination with Angioplasty and atherectomy. Years of plaque buildup damages the artery walls. Even after cleaning the artery, the walls are often too weak to stay open. Stenting is a procedure that helps support the blood vessel walls, preventing them from closing after removing the plaque. The procedure involved placing a small mesh tube inside the artery to offer rigid support.
At Pedes Orange County, we also offer renal artery stenting, which helps support the blood vessels that transport the blood to your kidneys. A patient with a history of arterial disease or who suffers from hypertension has a higher risk of plaque building up in the renal artery wall. Excess plaque on the renal artery tends to weaken the walls. Renal artery stenting offers firm support that ensures the blood flows unobstructed to the kidney.
What to Expect from Your Visit to Pedes
ULTRASOUND
ULTRASOUND
Your treatment will begin with an ultrasound examination of your veins, arteries, or both, in your legs to diagnose the presence and extent of the disease. Your test results will be immediately available to review with the doctor.
CONSULT
CONSULT
Once we review the results of your diagnostic tests, our physicians will help you develop a plan to provide you with the best treatment for your disease.
TREATMENT
TREATMENT
Depending on the extent of disease in your arteries or veins, our specialists may recommend minimally invasive intervention and/or prescribe medications to help your symptoms.
FOLLOW UP
FOLLOW UP
It is important to make sure that you return for every scheduled follow-up appointment to ensure that your disease is appropriately monitored. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please call or schedule a follow-up appointment with our staff.