High-Quality Treatments for Vascular Disease in Meridian
At Anderson Regional Medical Center, board-certified vascular surgeons
work with a dedicated team of nurses and technologists specializing in
vascular disease to bring you innovative surgical and noninvasive treatments.
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) is the narrowing of blood vessels going
to and from the leg and arm muscles, depriving the tissue of oxygen and
nutrients. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common form of PVD affecting
the arteries carrying oxygenated blood from the heart. Complications of
both PVD and PAD include poor wound healing, restricted mobility, limb
pain, stroke, heart attack and loss of limb.
Complications of Peripheral Vascular Disease and Peripheral Artery Disease
Left untreated, peripheral vascular disease can lead to loss of limb and
other complications, including death. Appropriate treatment of peripheral
artery or vascular disease is necessary to control the symptoms, such
as pain or swelling, and to halt the disease’s progression.
Our physicians provide surgical and nonsurgical care for diseases of the
veins, lymphatic vessels and arteries.
At Anderson, you can take advantage of a full range of services (including
minimally invasive techniques, when appropriate) if you suffer from:
Claudication (pain when walking due to arterial blockage)
Leg ulcers related to poor circulation
Carotid artery disease that could lead to stroke
Aortic aneurysm and other arterial aneurysms
Varicose veins and other vein disease, including blood clots
Leg swelling due to venous and lymphatic disease
Kidney failure requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
Any condition requiring noninvasive vascular testing
Diagnosing Peripheral Vascular Disease
If you notice long-term changes in your skin temperature or color on your
extremities, non-healing wounds, numbness or burning in your legs or toes,
restricted mobility or severe pain, make an appointment with your doctor
for a thorough examination.
Diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease may involve:
Angiogram — an X-ray of the arteries and veins using contrast dye detects
blockage or narrowing of the vessels.
Blood lipid profile — a blood test measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL
cholesterol and triglycerides.
Doppler ultrasound imaging studies — high-frequency sound waves and a computer create images of blood
vessels, tissues and organs.
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) — similar to an MRI, this noninvasive procedure uses a combination
of a large magnet, radiofrequencies and a computer to produce detailed
images and assess blood flow.
Treadmill walking test — an exam in which the patient walks slowly on a treadmill to try
to mimic the effect of activity on the leg arteries.
Segmental blood pressure measurements — a comparison of blood pressure using a Doppler device in the upper
thigh, above and below the knee, at the ankle and on the arm to determine
any constriction in blood flow.
Surgical and Non-Invasive Treatments of Vascular Disease
Your Anderson vascular team will assess your current condition and determine
the best course of treatment, which may include:
Lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise, proper nutrition and
smoking cessation to help minimize your risk.
Aggressive treatment of existing conditions that may aggravate PVD such
as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia or elevated blood cholesterol.
Medications for improving blood flow, such as antiplatelet agents (blood
thinners) and medications that relax the blood vessel walls.
Angioplasty – a catheter or long hollow tube creates a larger opening
in an artery to increase blood flow.
There are several types of angioplasty procedures, including:
Balloon angioplasty (a small balloon is inflated inside the blocked artery
to open the blocked area).
Atherectomy (the blocked area inside the artery is "shaved" away
by a tiny device on the end of a catheter).
Stenting – a tiny coil is expanded and left inside the artery to
open the blocked area.
Vascular surgery – a blood vessel from another part of the body or
a tube made of synthetic material is placed in the area of the blocked
or narrowed artery to reroute the blood flow (bypass).
With both angioplasty and vascular surgery, the surgeon may perform an
angiogram prior to the procedure to determine the exact location of the blockage.
J. Timothy Boyd, MDCardiologyView Profile
