Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease is a condition where the arteries that supply blood to the extremities become blocked. It is caused by a buildup of plaques, which are fatty deposits that become stuck to the arterial wall. This process of plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis, which eventually become completely blocked. Leg pain associated with peripheral artery disease is known as claudication, which is usually a serious sign of progressed disease. Other symptoms may include coldness of the feet, numbness in the legs, painful cramping, skin color changes, ulcers that eventually turn to gangrene, and others. Patients over 50, smokers, people with diabetes, those with a family history of peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol may be at an increased risk.
The images below reference a recent case of an 82-year-old male patient that was admitted with severe calf pain. He was unable to walk short distances, and his anterior tibial artery had no pulse. The patient was admitted immediately, and an ultrasound showed progressed peripheral arterial blockage. He was treated with an atherectomy and balloon expansion angioplasty, a minimally invasive outpatient arterial procedure used to remove plaque buildup from within the artery. Once the blockage was removed, a stent was put in place to keep the artery open. Claudication was now eliminated, the pulse in his anterior tibial artery was restored, and the patient returned home the same day.
At Southern Vascular Center of Panama City, we provide quality care, diagnostics, and treatment for a wide variety of vascular conditions, including peripheral artery disease. If you have a history of high blood pressure, smoke, have high cholesterol, been diagnosed with diabetes or vascular diseases, talk with your primary care physician about screening and testing procedures to monitor your condition. We have five locations on the Emerald Coast, with board-certified surgeons providing superior treatment across the board! Schedule your appointment online via our website at www.southernvascularpc.com or call our office at (850) 532-6303.
