Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Saving Limbs Through Innovative Treatment

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) specialists offer the latest diagnostic and treatment options for peripheral artery disease, or PAD. Learn about nonsurgical treatment options to help reduce your risk of developing PAD-related complications.

Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the development of blockages from calcium and cholesterol buildup in the arteries of your body outside the heart. This can include carotid arteries or upper extremity arteries, but most often involves the arteries supplying blood to the legs. PAD is a type of vascular disease, or condition that affects the blood vessels.

Experts estimate that over 9 million people in the United States have Peripheral artery disease (PAD). The condition is more common than atrial fibrillation (AFib) or congestive heart failure.

Complications of Peripheral Artery Disease

If not properly treated, PAD can lead to these serious complications:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Wounds and ulcers on the legs that may require amputation

Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease

The classic symptom of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is intermittent claudication. This is an aching or cramping sensation in an area of your legs while walking that improves when you rest. However, many people with PAD don’t experience any symptoms.

Peripheral Artery Disease Risk Factors

There are a number of risk factors for peripheral artery disease:

Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects you may have peripheral artery disease (PAD), they’ll perform a simple test of measuring the blood pressure in multiple places in your arms and legs. Your doctor also may order further non-invasive testing in a vascular diagnostic laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.

Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that requires ongoing medical attention. The good news is that you can manage the symptoms and keep the disease from progressing with these lifestyle changes:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Maintaining an active lifestyle and exercising regularly
• Managing other chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure
• Stopping the use of all tobacco products

Peripheral Artery Disease Medications

In addition to lifestyle changes, doctors often prescribe medications to decrease the risk of stroke and heart attack and offer these other benefits:

• Decrease symptoms of PAD
• Improve cholesterol
• Lower blood pressure
• Thin the blood to prevent clotting 

Leaders in Vascular Surgery

In some cases, medications and exercise alone are not enough to help those with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery is a national leader treating severe PAD with revascularization and primary endovascular therapy. We help to restore your mobility and quality of life, as well as help you avoid amputation.

Surgical options include:

• Angioplasty to open up blocked arteries.
• Endarterectomy to remove plaque buildup from blocked or narrowed arteries.
• Minimally invasive procedures to repair and unblock the affected arteries are an option for some people. Interventional cardiologists use imaging during procedures to see which areas require treatment. Next, they insert a very thin wire across the blockage and expand a balloon to open the artery.
• Stent placement. If you develop wounds or experience persistent symptoms even with medications, your care team may suggest stents to open up blockages.
• Surgical bypass. In some cases, the care team may suggest surgical bypass treatments to improve blood flow.
• Thrombolysis atherectomy to remove plaque buildup from blocked or narrowed arteries. This procedure uses a minimally invasive approach.
• Thrombectomy to remove a blood clot. During this procedure, a specialized device removes the clot from the blood vessel.