What Is the Best Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease?

Dr.Abhishek Bansal, 3 mins read

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of the most underestimated cardiovascular conditions. It hardly makes a headline like heart attack or stroke, even after affecting millions of individuals worldwide. 

However, with the evolution of medical science, the treatment has improved significantly. Apart from lifestyle changes and medication, minimally invasive endovascular and interventional radiology procedures offer non-surgical options that provide the best results with minimal downtime.     

This guide will discuss the best-known treatment for peripheral artery disease. So, let’s get started.

What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral artery disease refers to a condition in which arteries become narrowed, reducing blood flow in the arms and legs. This condition usually affects the legs, causing pain while walking. This pain is sometimes so severe that it can wake you up from sleep. 

Some people also report coldness, weakness, numbness, or skin or hair changes in the affected part. People with an existing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, ageing, obesity, high cholesterol, or who smoke are at a higher risk of this condition. It typically happens due to the buildup of fat deposits in the arteries.  

Many people usually ignore the symptoms, or their symptoms get misdiagnosed often, which delays the diagnosis and treatment as well. This delay in treatment can lead to severe complications like limb ischemia, gangrene, or amputation. Thus, getting the right treatment on time is of paramount importance.

So, if you are having the symptoms mentioned above, you should discuss them with your doctor for proper diagnosis. If your doctor suspects an abnormality, they may order some tests, including blood tests, ankle-brachial index, ultrasound, or angiography. 

Best Treatments for Peripheral Artery Disease

Lifestyle Changes

• Quit smoking or using tobacco 
• Exercise regularly  
• Eat nutritious foods
• Limit sugar, salt, and fats
• Sleep with your leg level below your heart level and raise your head side. Hanging the leg over the edge of the bed can also be beneficial.

Footcare 

PAD makes it harder for the sores or cuts in the affected area to heal. Thus, it is important to care for your leg properly.

• Wash your feet daily and keep them dry. 
• Moisturise the affected part.
• Talk to a doctor for a fungal infection or other treatment.

Medicines

This includes medicines to treat the suspected underlying cause. For example, diabetes medicines are prescribed if PAD is due to high sugar levels. Likewise, if you have high cholesterol or blood pressure, you will be recommended their respective medications. You may also be prescribed pain relievers or medicines to improve blood flow. Antiplatelet medicine or anti-coagulant (blood thinners) may also be prescribed to prevent arterial blockages. 

Procedures 

Thrombolytic Therapy (Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis)

If the PAD is due to a blood clot, a medicine may be given directly to the affected artery to dissolve the clot. 

Bypass Surgery 

This is an invasive treatment where, like a heart bypass surgery, a new path is created for the blood flow around the affected artery. The surgeon takes the graft from the patient’s body to create this new path and restore normal blood flow. 

Non-Surgical Endovascular & Interventional Radiology (IR) Procedures

These are minimally invasive, advanced, safe, and highly effective treatments for peripheral artery disease performed by IR experts. This results in greater comfort, faster recovery, and excellent results.

• Angioplasty and Stenting: An IR expert will use imaging guidance to insert a thin tube (catheter) into an affected artery. This catheter has a tiny balloon on its tip that is inflated to push the plaque against the artery walls to open up the blocked path. Sometimes, a stent is placed in that region to keep the artery open. 
• Atherectomy: The initial process of atherectomy is similar to angioplasty. Once the catheter reaches the target area, the plaque is collected in the chamber at the tip, allowing removal of plaque from the arteries. This procedure can be used alone or with angioplasty and stenting. We, at Aakash Healthcare, are one of the few centres in the country to have all types of atherectomy devices for the benefit of our patients.   

If you or someone is suffering from peripheral artery disease, you can consult us at Aakash Healthcare. We offer all the treatment options for peripheral artery disease with a high success rate.