Peripheral Vascular Disease & Treatment

Peripheral Vascular Treatment
Elective percuaneous translumnial angioplasty and stent placement to open arteries in the lower extremities is performed in the Cardiovascular Catheterization Lab at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, by Bhaskar Patel, MD, Danville Polyclinic cardiologist.

These are non-surgical treatments that are performed by making a small incision through which a catheter is inserted to reach the blocked artery.  A tiny balloon is used to open the clog and a stent-a tiny wire mesh cylinder-may also be implanted to hold the artery open. 

What is PAD?
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the most common type of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and affects about 8 million Americans. However, only 25% of people with PVD are actually diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms include: leg pain that doesn't go away when not exercising, foot wounds that won't heal or heal slowly, gangrene, and a severe decrease in the temperature of the lower leg or foot.  Often, people dismiss leg pain as a normal sign of aging.

Risk factors include: smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Take our VascularAware on-line risk assessment now!

Visit the American Heart Association website for more detailed information on PAD and PVD.

For more information on PAD treatment at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, consult your physician, or call 217.477.2995.