Do you have pain, aching or numbness in your legs, especially when walking or climbing stairs? Are your toenails growing poorly? Does it take a long time for scratches or sores on your legs and feet to heal?
These are all potential signs of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Also known as peripheral vascular disease, PAD is a condition that can affect any blood vessel outside the heart, but most often occurs in the vessels of the legs and feet. The most common cause is the buildup of plaque inside the artery wall, so-called arthrosclerosis, which slows blood flow to the limbs, decreasing the oxygen available and damaging the tissue.
The experienced physicians at the Jefferson Vascular Center provide comprehensive care that includes the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of vascular diseases such as PAD.
Untreated PAD can lead to amputation and even death. So, if you experience cramping pains in your legs while walking or a burning sensation in your foot while resting and reclining, please seek a medical assessment.
At the Jefferson Vascular Center, patients with PAD in their legs may be eligible for treatment with minimally invasive endovascular revascularization of the arteries, a procedure performed under local anesthesia by surgeons of Jefferson’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Operating from inside the blood vessels, accessed through a small hole in the upper thigh, the surgeons are able to remove the plaque and blockages without making a major incision, as is used in a traditional open revascularization.
At both locations, our multidisciplinary team includes vascular and endovascular surgeons, vascular medicine specialists, nurses, a vascular ultrasound radiologist, and pharmacists to coordinate treatment and provide personalized consultations and follow-up. For an appointment at either location, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW (800-533-3669) or request an appointment online.