At Vascular Care of Texas, our personalized treatment plans are designed to help manage your symptoms and halt the progression of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD), thereby lowering your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a broad term for conditions that affect blood flow to blood vessels outside the heart, including arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common type of PVD that typically affects the lower limbs. Having PVD can make it hard for parts of your body — including your brain, heart, legs and feet — to receive proper blood flow. Left untreated, PVD and PAD can lead to serious complications, including wounds that won’t heal and even the need for amputation.

While the most common cause of PAD is atherosclerosis — a narrowing or blockage of one or more arteries due to a buildup of a fatty substance called plaque — PAD is also commonly associated with chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, blood clots and blood vessel inflammation, varicose veins and other conditions.

If you are concerned about your risk for PAD or PVD, make an appointment with one of our specialists today by calling (972) 426-9900.

Symptoms of peripheral artery disease

About half of people with PAD have no symptoms. Experts estimate the condition is highly undiagnosed, which is why it’s important to get regular screenings, especially if you have any of the risk factors for vascular disease noted on our home page.

The other 50% of people with PAD may experience these symptoms in their legs and feet:

  • Cramping, numbness, pain, tingling
  • Wounds that won’t heal
  • Changes in skin color and temperature

Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease

Common symptoms that affect the legs and feet of people with PVD include:

  • Heaviness, pain, swelling
  • Skin changes
  • Varicose veins

Treatment for PAD and PVD

We use a special type of ultrasound called arterial duplex imaging to diagnose and evaluate your condition. Based on your test results and other personalized factors, your endovascular specialist will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan, which may include one of these minimally invasive procedures:

  • Balloon angioplasty: A thin tube containing a tiny balloon is carefully inserted through your artery to the blockage, then inflated to widen the opening and increase blood flow
  • Arterial stenting: Implants a stent into your artery to help hold it open
  • Atherectomy: Removes plaque buildup from inside an artery using endoscopic surgery

If your condition requires more complex care, your vascular specialist may recommend one of the following traditional surgical options:

  • Open surgical bypass: Directs blood flow around an area of blockage in the legs
  • Open endarterectomy: Surgically removes plaque buildup from inside an artery

Claudication symptoms and treatment

Claudication is the name of the pain you feel when your muscles don’t get enough oxygen because blood flow is restricted. It’s often a symptom of PAD and is typically triggered by activity and improves when you rest. Claudication generally affects the blood vessels in the legs but can also affect the arms.

Symptoms include:

  • Pain, aches, discomfort or fatigue in the buttocks, calves, feet, hips or thighs every time those muscles are used
  • Pain in the biceps, forearms or shoulders (less common)
  • Pain that gets better when you rest

Initially, claudication may occur only during exercise or other physical activity. However, as your PAD or other vascular condition progresses, the pain may not go away when you’re at rest. It’s important to get screened if you have symptoms of PAD or claudication, or any of the risk factors for vascular disease listed on our home page. Early diagnosis and treatment can help increase blood flow and relieve pain while helping you avoid the serious complications of PAD and other vascular diseases.

Critical limb ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most advanced stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD). It occurs when there is a significant blockage in blood flow to the lower limbs. Early symptoms may include claudication, as discussed above. Later symptoms include pain at rest, chronic wounds that won’t heal and gangrene.

This is a limb-threatening, and even life-threatening, condition and should be treated immediately to avoid amputation, cardiovascular events (such as heart attack) or even death. The goal of treatment is to increase blood supply to the affected limb. Therapies include medication, exercise, or open or minimally invasive surgery.

The vascular specialists at Vascular Care of Texas are experts at dealing with this complex condition and offer personalized, advanced treatment options.