Peripheral Vascular Disease
 

What is Peripheral Vascular Disease? (PVD)

PVD is a condition that causes the internal lining of an artery to become thickened. This thickening causes the artery to become narrow or clogged and eventually decreases the flow of blood through the artery.

Signs and Symptoms of PVD

 

Claudication (dull, cramping pain in hips, thighs or calf muscles)

Buttock pain

Numbness or tingling in leg, foot or toes

Change in temperature - coolness

Impotence

Ulceration or gangrene
High blood pressure
Sores that don't heal
 

Risk Factors of PVD

 

Obesity (being overweight)

High Blood Pressure

A Family History of the Disease

Lack of Exercise

Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)

Diabetes
Smoking
   
 

Treatments for PVD

 

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is used to widen the narrowing in your artery without surgery. The basic idea of angioplasty is to position a catheter with a small inflatable balloon on the end within the narrowed section of the artery. Inflation of the balloon catheter causes the balloon to push outward against the narrowing and surrounding wall of the artery. This process reduces the narrowing until it no longer interferes with blood flow. The balloon is then deflated and removed from the artery.

   
 

Stent Placement-

A stent is a small, latticed, metal scaffold that is introduced into your blood vessel on a balloon catheter. The doctor will decide whether to choose a metallic stent, depending on the location and condition of the narrowing in your artery. The doctor maneuvers the catheter into the blocked artery and inflates the balloon. The stent expands against the vessel wall as the balloon is inflated. Once the balloon has been deflated and withdrawn, the stent stays in place permanently, holding the blood vessel open and improving blood flow.