VASCULAR SOLUTIONS - Vascular and Endovascular Surgeons Treating Peripheral Vascular Disease in Cleveland, Ohio | ||||||||
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Angioplasty - An Endovascular Solution for Peripheral Vascular Disease | ||||
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Overview - Angioplasty for Lower Extremities | ||
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There are three principal reasons to have angioplasty performed as a revascularizations procedure for lower extremities : | ||
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1. Claudication - painful walking that limits the quality of ones life 2. Impacts upon the performance at work 3. Limb threatening ischemia with non-healing ischemia or gangrene Blockage of arteries in the lower extremities presents as a range of symptoms (see Lower Extremity Ischemia) | ||
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Preparation for angioplasty | ||
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Preoperative evaluation includes a careful history and physical, noninvasive blood flow examination, and diagnostic arteriography. Because there is a close association between peripheral arterial disease and heart disease most patients are seen by a cardiologist prior to surgery. Vascular Solutions doctors will perform your arteriogram. This is the road map to successful treatment of your arteries. Usually, the results of the arteriogram will be discussed in the office before proceeding with intervention but occasionally the angioplasty can be performed at the same sitting as the initial angiogram. | ||
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Results | ||
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The initial success rate can be as high as 90-95% depending on the blood vessel location and severity of disease . Because the medical problems that caused the blockage can be ongoing, constant vigilance is necessary (and customary with Vascular Solutions patients) to ensure the angioplasty continues to give satisfactory results. There is no guarantee that the treated blood vessel(s) will function satisfactorily in a permanent fashion. The initial status of the arterial tree determines long-term results. Occasionally the angioplasty must be repeated. It is important to keep follow up appointments, inform your doctor ofrecurrent symptoms, and avoid smoking. Doctors at Vascular Solutions will also monitor the function of the angioplasty with periodic noninvasive vascular exams. | ||
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How does angioplasty work? | ||
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When a balloon is inflates it develops firm contact with the wall of a blood vessel. The balloon is often inflated to pressures many times beyond our atmospheric pressure. This results in thousands of pounds of pressure exerted in a very confined area. The artery is expanded and the plaque "remodels". On occasion the remodeling results in a dissection which results in blood flowing behind the plaque in an uncontrolled fashion. Sometimes stents would be used to treat this condition. The polar balloon from Boston Scientific has also been found to treat or prevent this condition. | ||
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