PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease)
Peripheral artery disease is a common disease process affecting the arteries that carry blood to your arms and legs. These arteries become blocked or narrowed by the buildup of plaque and calcium inside the walls of the artery restricting blood flow. When this happens, the affected organ cannot function normally causing symptoms.
Symptoms
Legs: claudication (pain with ambulation relieved by rest), resting pain (usually at night), non-healing wounds, numbness and weakness.
Arm: arm pain, numbness and weakness with use.
How do we diagnose PAD?
Your doctor will first do a physical evaluation and ask you questions concerning your symptoms. Then some simple noninvasive tests will be ordered such as arterial doppler(ultrasound images) of the arteries, or ABI (ankle brachial index) which compares the upper extremity pressures to the lower extremity pressures. These are simple tests which can indicate the presence of PAD.
If these simple tests indicate the possibility of PAD then more specific tests may be ordered to better define the location and the severity of the blockages. These include diagnostic angiogram, or a CT scan. If these tests indicate a blockage then your doctor will suggest a procedure to open these arteries.
Treatment
PAD is treated by performing an angiogram to define the exact location and severity of the blockages and then using special devices to open the arteries.