Peripheral arterial disease (Peripheral vascular disease) are chronic arterial disease affecting the major and or minor arteries of the upper or lower limbs, intestine, brain, kidneys.

Common causes for PVD is Age >60yrs, Diabetes, Hypertension, Tobacco Smoking, high cholesterol levels.

PAD usually is asymptomatic affecting not less than 25% of elderly people. For the active and mobile people, it usually presents as Intermittent Claudication ( Calf pain that occurs only on walking and is relieved by a few minutes rest and again recurring after walking the same distance). Untreated, PAD progresses to Gangrene of the toes and ultimately major leg amputation.

Diagnosis: is done by physical examination, Color Doppler, ABI / TBI (Ankle / Toe Brachial Index), Angiography (Conventional / CT / MRI ).

Treatment:

• Stop Smoking.
• Perfect diabetic control.
• Regular walking
• Cholesterol lowering medications (Statins)
• Antiplatelets (Aspirin, Clodogreletc).

If untreated, limb threatening PVD (Ulcer / Gangrene / Rest Pain) usually progresses to Major amputation in more than 90% of cases.

If treated, Vizag Vascular Center has the distinction of saving more than 95% of the limbs treated for PVD / PAD.

Post-procedure patients need to take lifelong Blood thinners etc.