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Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society
Patient Information with Questions and Answers about
common vascular diseases and their treatment
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Common Questions about Lower Extremity Disease:
Introduction
Common Questions about Lower Extremity Occlusive disease
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Introduction
Peripheral vascular disease is also called PVD by many poeple. It is a condition
where hardening of the artieries from atherosclerosis affects blood flow to
the legs or arms. Depending on a patient's severity of PVD, it can cause pain
or even gangrene of a limb.
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Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ's
1. What are PVD symptoms?
Answer: Common symptoms of PVD include leg pain during walking, weakness in
the legs, numbness or burning in feet or toes when resting, or sores that do
not heal on a leg or foot. If some symptoms are ignored, it can progress to
gangrene - requiring an amputation. The condition, when in a milder form, can
be called intermittent claudication
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2. Am I at Risk?
Answer: Patients at greatest riskare over the age of 50, are tobaccosmokers,
have high blood pressure, and do not exercise. A family history of other atherosclerotic
problems is also important.
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3. How do I know if I have PVD?
Answer: A vascular surgeon, a specialist in diagnosis and treatment of PVD
is the best first stop. A consultation and examination can arrive at a diagnosis
of PVD and what is exactly affected. Other testing, such as Non invasive pressures
and ultrasound can confirm a vascular surgeon's impression. Angiography is not
for diagnosis, but can guide the route of treatment.
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4. How can my PVD be treated?
Answer: PVD treatment depends on sypmtoms, and the artery or arteries involved.
Some patients can benefit from an endovascular approach, perhaps with angioplasty
of a narrowed vessel. Other patients may require bypass of a blocked artery
to restore normal blood flow. No matter what else, all patients with PVD need
nonoperative therapy of the underlying condition - atherosclerosis. Smoking
cessation, control of blood pressure, exercise, and control of high cholesterol
are essential fundamentals.
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5. Who can treat my PVD?
A truly thorough approach to PVD treatment is best done by specialists with
multidisciplinary experience. Just because a physician treats other problems
and symptoms for you, such as your cardiologist for your heart, that may not
mean that they are best suited to treat blockages in your legs. Ask your petential
treating specialist about other aspects of how he/she can treat your condition
beyond the procedure they initially offer. A specialist in PVD or a mutlidisciplanry
group who focuses on PVD can offer the full spectrum of therapy. That is our
approach here at the Jacksonville Vascular Insitute.
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6. What if I need an operation?
Most PVD operations involve a bypass. This means placing a new tube to
carry blood flow around a blocked artery. If the larger vessels, such as your
aorto or iliac artery, cannot be treated with angioplasty (ballon widening of
your artery), a piece of artificial blood vessel is needed. These grafts are
typically made out of medical grade teflon today. In your leg below the groin,
the vessels are smaller, so teflon or plastic grafts do not work as well. The
artificial grafts tend to block off on their own quicker. The artifical grafts
also carry a higher risk of infection. If a piece of your own vein is available
in the leg, this makes the best graft to use. This would be the same vein a
cardiac surgeon would use for a heart bypass operation. Other issues of where
an incision may go, and recovery times are best discussed with your surgeon.
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We at the PVSS hope this information has answered what may be some of your
questions about peripheral vascular disease.
Sincerely,
Henry C. Veldenz, M.D., F.A.C.S. for the PVSS
Last updated 10/26/2000 Copyright 2000 Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society
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