Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease refers to diseases of blood vessels outside the heart and brain. It's often a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. There are two types of these circulation disorders:

Functional peripheral vascular diseases don't have an organic cause. They don't involve defects in blood vessels' structure. They're usually short-term effects related to "spasm" that may come and go. Raynaud's disease is an example. It can be triggered by cold temperatures, emotional stress, working with vibrating machinery or smoking.

Organic peripheral vascular diseases are caused by structural changes in the blood vessels, such as inflammation and tissue damage. Peripheral artery disease is an example. It's caused by fatty buildups in arteries that block normal blood flow.

Drug-eluting stents

Drug-eluting stents are coated with medication that is slowly released (eluted) to help prevent the growth of scar tissue in the artery lining. This helps the artery remain smooth and open, assuring good blood flow through it. Drug-eluting stents were developed because in some of those who get bare-metal stents, tissue growth over the stent eventually leads to re-blockage.

Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) test

This test is done by measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while a person is at rest. Measurements are usually repeated at both sites after 5 minutes of walking on a treadmill.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) result is used to predict the severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). A slight drop in your ABI with exercise means that you probably have PAD. This drop may be important, because PAD can be linked to a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

PADnet test

A PADnet test is a noninvasive exam that provides us with a measurement of blood volumes in our patient’s extremities by using a series of blood pressure readings.  It is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to test for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).  The test will show if there is restricted blood flow in the limbs and usually takes 15-20 minutes.

Peripheral angiography/peripheral angioplasty/peripheral stenting

Peripheral angiography is an outpatient diagnostic study for patients who may have blocked blood vessels in their lower body and extremities.  Peripheral angiograms provide a “mapping” of blood flow through the arteries in your extremities.  During a peripheral angiogram, a catheter (small, thin hollow tube) is inserted into an artery or vein and passed down your legs.  Through the catheter, a dye is injected into the peripheral arteries.  As the dye is injected, x-rays are taken which allow the trained cardiologist to see blood flow through the arteries.

Peripheral angioplasty can be performed to treat blood vessel narrowing or blockage.  During an angioplasty procedure, a balloon catheter is advanced to the area of vessel narrowing or blockage.  The end of the catheter contains a small, folded balloon.  The balloon is inflated and compresses the plaque build-up against the walls of the artery and stretches the artery wall to expand, resulting in improved blood flow

During some angioplasty procedures, the trained cardiologist may decide to place a stent (tiny mesh tube) in the affected area of the vessel to keep the artery “open”.

Renal artery stenting

If a renal artery (kidney blood vessel) is partially or completely blocked, your physician may recommend an angioplasty (and possible stent) may be performed.  Again, a catheter is inserted through a small incision and guided to the renal artery.  A balloon on the tip of the balloon catheter is inflated and after a period of time determined by the physician, deflated, in order to flatten the plaque against the walls of the renal artery.  If necessary, the physician may deploy a tiny, mesh stent in the affected area of the renal artery to hold it open.

Vascular laboratory

A noninvasive vascular laboratory is a diagnostic service provided in our office.  We have equipment and clinically skilled technologists that allow us to diagnose problems of the vascular system (blood vessels away from the heart).  The tests performed in our vascular laboratory are safe, pain-free and extremely accurate.  Our two (2) technologists who perform this testing in our lab are Registered Vascular Technologists (RVT) and credentialed by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).

We perform various tests in our vascular lab including testing of: the carotid arteries for stroke risk; the abdominal aorta for aneurysm; the kidneys for possible causes of high blood pressure.  We also perform arterial imaging of the legs for pseudo-aneurysm.