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peripheral artery disease treatment

Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

Affecting one in 20 Americans, Peripheral Artery Disease (or PAD) is a serious condition occurring when calcium and/or cholesterol builds up in the arteries supplying blood to the extremities. Symptoms include a heaviness in the legs (especially when climbing stairs), coldness in the lower legs and numbness. Through a series of specialized, minimally invasive arterial interventions, ECCO treats advanced cases the following ways:

  • Balloon Angioplasty
  • Atherectomy
  • Stent Placement

Depending on the complexity, these procedures last anywhere from one to four hours and occur in an office-based setting.

This image describes the nature of plaque clogging arteries that can ultimately lead to PAD.

 

Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment Options Explained

Before treatment, ECCO physicians create an arterial map using injected dyes to create pathways viewable via X-Ray. Depending on where the blockages occur and what obstacles exist, one of three treatments take place:

  • Balloon Angioplasty: This occurs with a specialized catheter with an elongated balloon on its tip inflates to remove the blockage in the artery.
  • Atherectomy: This method removes plaque buildup in the arteries by using specialized catheters that have laser or grinding functionality.
  • Stent Placement: If angioplasty or atherectomy aren’t successful in restoring flow through an artery, a stent, or a tube made of metal wire keeps the vessel open – permanently.
peripheral artery disease treatment
“Balloon Angioplasty” is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins.

All these procedures occur with moderate sedation and require minimal recovery time. A closure device is used to seal the artery which decreases recovery time and may cause some bruising or soreness at the access site. For more information on the types of equipment used in these procedures, click here.

Are you a PAD candidate?

The answer to this question depends on the advice of your recommending physician(s). In addition to a thorough physical examination conducted by ECCO’s doctors. All patients with PAD are at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke and some are at risk of losing a limb to amputation because of non-treatment.

Want to learn more? Take our PAD quiz to help better determine your next steps. Or give us a call: 720-668-8818.

 

*Feature image courtesy of Medical News Today. 

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