Peripheral artery disease (PAD) – Diagnosis and treatment

In Peripheral Artery Disease (also known as PAD or Peripheral Arterial Disease), the blood supply to the legs or arms becomes insufficient, and the patient is not able to perform basic movements due to weakness. Moreover, various ailments, such as nerve entrapment, may result from this. Typically, PAD indicates an accumulation of fatty deposits within the arteries, causing the vascular constriction brought on by Atherosclerosis.

General recuperative measures for Peripheral Artery Disease involve essential physical activity, a good diet, and abstinence from nicotine and smoking. The treatment for PAD includes – medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes. However, in case the injury is too much, and medication and lifestyle modifications haven’t sufficiently treated your PAD, your physician can advise Angioplasty or Athrerectomy. However, when the atherectomy and angioplasty aren’t really effective. The doctors may advise you to undergo surgery, also known as peripheral artery bypass surgery.

Peripheral Arterial Bypass is performed to restore blood flow in a leg (or arm) artery that has narrowed or got blocked. A peripheral artery bypass operation provides a different route for your blood to flow around a blocked artery in your leg. Surgery for peripheral artery bypass is pretty frequent.

After this procedure, recovery might take several weeks, but many patients have improved blood flow for years. However, a peripheral artery bypass procedure is one of the best techniques to restore blood flow to your legs.

Pre-Procedure Preparations

Once you visit the top heart doctors at Metro Hospitals, they might assess you based on your medical history. They might ask you about any existing ailments. Once they are done assessing you, they will tell you all the pros and cons. Before the procedure, your vascular surgeon could recommend that you undergo tests like:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• An ultrasonogram
• Few blood tests
• A strain test

You may also need to:

• Stop using certain medications.
• After midnight, refrain from eating or drinking.
• Leave all your jewellery and belongings at your home. Only pack necessary items such as water bottles, loose dresses, etc.
• Also, it’s crucial to quit smoking prior to getting a peripheral artery bypass if you are aware of this.

Benefits

The benefits of Peripheral Artery surgery are as follows:

• You get a pain-free life.
• The surgery can be minimally invasive. Hence, you can be recovered within 3-4 days. But you might need to rest and avoid rigorous workouts and activities.
• The post-procedure risks & complications are also very less.
• After the operation, the patient can resume regular activities in a few days.

Eligibility

Peripheral Artery Bypass surgery may be necessary for those who have a serious blockage in a long, narrow portion of their leg (or arm) artery. If other PAD therapies are ineffective for you, your doctor may recommend surgery.

You could require this procedure if you have the following-

• Leg pain during walking or at night.
• Your leg has wounds that are not healing.
• Dead skin (gangrene).

Who is not eligible?

The treatment could turn out to be risky for certain patients. You are not eligible for the procedure if you are having:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes (as it is an invasive procedure, and the wounds might not heal properly)
• Chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, Cancer (Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer), Arthritis, Kidney or lung disease, etc.
• Terminal illness such as neurological illness (Alzheimer, Parkinson’s, ADHD, etc.)

Your risk of coronary heart disease, a heart attack, a stroke, and a transient ischemic attack rises due to PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease). It is a severe condition, but it is manageable. Visit or contact Metro Hospitals today and consult the best heart doctors & surgeons in the city who have been treating patients for years.