Peripheral Vascular Disease and Peripheral Stenting and Diabetic Foot

Most common cause of Peripheral vascular disease is plaque build up in the lumen of the arteries. These plaques are formed in individuals who have high levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and habit of cigarette smoking and tobacco cheweing. They are more common in males but do occur in females as well. The occurrence of Peripheral vascular disease is more common in the older age group but can occur at any age in an adult life.

In Peripheral vascular disease, there is narrowing or blockage of the arteries which causes decreased blood flow to the legs. Because of this, during walking or exercising, the leg muscles do not get enough blood supply and result in cramps and pain which we call as 'Claudication Pain'. This pain mostly relieves on rest but sometimes and in severe cases when the diseases progresses there will be continous pain even during rest as well. The patient can also complain of tingling, numbness and weakness and blackish discoloration in the legs. The symptoms can also worsen over the time leading to inability to walk, skin ulcers, bluish/reddish/blackish discoloration of the skin, cold and clammy skin and poor growth of nails and hair in the affected leg. This disease is mostly ignored in wrongly assuming that it is a normal part of ageing process rather than consulting a doctor or Interventional Radiologist / Endo Vascular Surgeon

These symptoms and the underlying cause if left untreated may give rise to complications such as infection of the legs and gangrene. Leg might even have to be amputated if the infection cannot be controlled.

The diagnosis is mostly done on the basis of the symptoms and the clinical examination performed by a Interventional Radiologist / Endo Vascular Surgeon . Ankle-Brachial index is one of the initial tests used to diagnose the peripheral vascular disease. Angiography, USG, MRA and CT scans are also useful in the diagnosis of PVD and often time confirmatory and helps the treating doctor to come to a conclusion about the direction of treatment.

The Peripheral Vascular disease is treated according to the severity of the disease. If it is in initial stages, lifestyle modifications like smoking cessation, management of concomitant conditions like obesity, diabetes and hypertension, medications like statins to lower the levels of cholesterol, anti- platelet agents which help in reducing blood clots. Regular exercise will also help in reducing the progress of the disease.

Even after all these treatments, the symptoms persist then the patient will have to see an Endo Vascular surgeon / Interventional radiologist in hyderabad