Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is due to the hardening of the arteries which interferes with blood flow sometimes causing pain. This is a gradual process, and the main culprit of PAD is the buildup of cholesterol and scar tissue that can create a plaque that clogs the blood vessels. The most common symptom is painful cramping in the legs or hip. This occurs when there is not enough blood flowing to the leg muscles during exercise. Other symptoms may include numbing, tingling or weakness in the legs. Our interventional radiologist can do several treatments such as angioplasty, use of stents, thrombolytic therapy or stent grafts, all with the purpose of unclogging the blood vessels and increasing blood flow.
Conditions and how they are treated
- Condition Treated: Arterial disease
- Reason for Procedure: Diagnosis of arterial disease if often achieved using CT and MRI. However, for certain conditions, catheter angiography is the gold standard diagnostic test. During angiography, certain vascular conditions may be treated at the same time.
- How It’s Performed: An Interventional Radiologist enters an artery, usually in the leg or wrist. Small catheters are placed into the artery of interest under X-ray guidance. Contrast is injected to study the arteries and evaluate for arterial disease. If needed, arteries can be treated with medications, balloons or stents.
- Anesthesia: Conscious Sedation
- Recovery Time: 2-4 hours, depending on the artery accessed.
- For more information and to schedule a consultation with one of our IR physicians, please call 631-403-7088.
- Conditions Treated: Arterial disease and arterial blockage
- Reason for Procedure: To treat artery blockage or narrowing.
- How It’s Performed: An Interventional Radiologist enters an artery, usually in the leg or wrist. Small catheters are placed into the artery of interest. Contrast injection is performed under live X-ray guidance to study the arteries of interest. If needed, arteries are treated with balloons, medications, or stents to keep the arteries open.
- Anesthesia: Conscious Sedation
- Recovery Time: 2-4 hours depending on the artery accessed.
- For more information and to schedule a consultation with one of our IR physicians, please call 631-403-7088.
