What Causes Peripheral Arterial Disease?

While PAD can affect anyone, certain risk factors increase the likelihood of developing the condition.

The most common causes of PAD include:

• Tobacco use: Smoking damages the arteries and accelerates plaque buildup.
• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels contribute to arterial damage and calcification.
• High blood pressure and cholesterol: Both increase the strain on artery walls.
• Family history of vascular disease
• Age 50 and older

Symptoms of PAD

PAD often develops slowly, and many patients mistake early warning signs for normal aging. Recognizing symptoms early is key to preventing complications.

Common symptoms include:

• Leg pain, cramping, or weakness while walking known as claudication
• Non-healing wounds on the feet or toes
• Rest pain: aching in the feet at night that improves when legs are lowered from the bed
• Coldness or color changes in the legs and feet
• Loss of hair or slowed hair growth on your lower legs or toes
• Slow-growing toenails

How PAD Is Diagnosed

If you have symptoms of PAD, your provider may recommend diagnostic testing.

Common tests include:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI): Measures blood pressure at the ankle and compares it to the arm.
• Ultrasound imaging: Creates real-time images of blood flow in the arteries of the legs and feet.
• Angiogram: An outpatient procedure performed under light sedation. A catheter is inserted into the femoral artery to capture detailed images of blockages and, in many cases, improve blood flow during the same procedure.

PAD Treatment Options

The goal of PAD treatment is to improve circulation, relieve symptoms, and reduce the risk of complications such as heart attack, stroke, or limb loss.

Treatment may include:

• Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, controlling blood sugar, eating a heart-healthy diet, and regular exercise.
• Medications: Antiplatelet therapy and statins to reduce clotting risk and lower cholesterol.
• Minimally invasive procedures: Angioplasty and stent placement can help open narrowed arteries. Atherectomy uses a device to reduce plaque burden in blocked arteries, allowing for improved blood flow.
• Bypass surgery: In severe cases, a vascular surgeon may recommend surgical bypass to reroute blood flow around the blocked artery.

Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI): An Advanced Form of PAD

In some cases, PAD can progress to Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI), the most severe stage of the disease. CLI occurs when blood flow is so restricted that the legs and feet do not receive enough oxygen, leading to chronic rest pain, non-healing ulcers, and tissue loss.

Signs of CLI may include:

• Severe leg or foot pain, even while at rest
• Sores or wounds on the feet that do not heal
• Gangrene (tissue death)
• Cold, pale, or discolored skin on the legs or feet

CLI is considered a medical emergency because it greatly increases the risk of amputation if left untreated. At CVT Surgical Center, our vascular surgeons offer minimally invasive advanced limb-saving procedures such as atherectomy, angioplasty, stenting, and, if necessary, bypass surgery, to restore blood flow and preserve mobility.

Why Choose CVT Surgical Center?

At CVT Surgical Center, we combine decades of surgical expertise with the latest technology to deliver comprehensive vascular care. Our team of board-certified vascular surgeons specializes in diagnosing and treating PAD with advanced, minimally invasive procedures designed to restore healthy circulation and improve the quality of life for patients in the Greater Baton Rouge area.