Vascular disease

PVD refers to certain types of atherosclerosis. They are progressive diseases in which there are blockages in arteries of the brain, kidneys and legs. One of the most common types of PVD is peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Understanding PAD

PAD is a type of PVD that impacts only the arteries, typically those that go into the arms and/or legs. This can cause you to have numbness or pain in your limbs.

Because PAD most often occurs in people who are 50 years old or older, this limb pain may be wrongly attributed to a "natural part of aging." Be sure to talk to your doctor about PAD if you have this type of pain or discomfort or if you suspect you may have other signs of vascular disease.

We provide many ways to diagnose vascular problems and ensure we can get you the best care possible. Some of our diagnostic imaging techniques we use to determine these conditions include:

• Arteriograms
• Electrocardiograms and echocardiograms (to determine related heart issues)
• Doppler ultrasonography for arteries and veins
• Ultrasounds
• Stress tests

Vascular diseases are serious conditions, so if you have any of the symptoms below, we recommend you seek medical attention as soon as possible:

• Discoloration of the foot or leg
• Feelings of coldness in the legs and feet
• Intermittent pain or cramping in the arms or legs (claudication), especially if it worsens with exercise and lessens with rest
• Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, toes, feet or legs
• Sores or ulcers on the foot or leg that heal slowly (Be careful, as these types of non-healing wounds are dangerous whether or not you have PAD.)
• Weakness and atrophy of calf muscles

If you have intermittent cramping, numbness or coldness in your arms or legs, you may have early signs of vascular disease and should reach out to one of our cardiovascular specialists.

Our cardiovascular teams and vascular specialists will work closely with you to understand your condition and determine a treatment plan that works for you. We may begin with treatment plans that focus on nonsurgical methods, such as:

• Diet changes
• Exercise programs
• Medication

When you need surgery to resolve your vascular problems, we offer many minimally invasive techniques, including endovascular procedures. These types of treatments are associated with:

• Smaller incisions
• Shorter recovery times
• Less pain
• Less stress on the heart

We perform vascular surgeries as part of our advanced heart and vascular surgery programs. These surgeries include:

• Balloon angioplasty — uses a specially designed catheter with a tiny balloon, which is inflated to widen a narrowed or blocked artery and increase blood flow to the heart
• Carotid stenting — innovative, minimally invasive and lifesaving procedure that uses an X-ray guided catheter to hold the artery open
• Intravascular stents — inserts a stent to widen a blocked or narrowed artery and increase blood flow to the heart
• Intravascular thrombolysis — medication that dissolves clots in blood vessels and improves blood flow
• Mechanical atherectomy — removes the buildup of plaque of fatty materials in diseased arteries

Our healthcare network offers access to one of the few places in the region for ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a form of PVD. This advanced technology uses ultrasound waves to directly target and break up blood clots. It can treat even the most complex DVT cases, preventing the need for amputation and, sometimes, saving lives.