Did you know…?
- 1 in 3 people age 70 or older suffer from PAD.
- PAD causes pain in the extremities and increases the risk of limb loss, heart attack and stroke.
The Miami Vascular Specialists (MVS) team of board certified physicians has established the PAD Treatment Program with the goal of delivering effective and compassionate healthcare solutions to Miami-Dade County residents. The MVS team provides highly accurate diagnostics and a full range of treatments – including guidance on lifestyle changes, medications, and angioplasty/stenting using the
latest minimally invasive techniques.
With help from MVS, patients with PAD can enjoy dramatic relief of painful symptoms and reduce their risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Providing accurate diagnoses and customized treatment plans
MVS physicians start by conducting a thorough assessment of the patient’s PAD symptoms. This process may include one or more diagnostic tests, such as:
- Pulse test – Measures pulse strength in the arteries behind the knees and feet
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) – Compares blood pressure in the arms and legs
- Duplex ultrasound – Uses high frequency sound waves to measure blood flow and detect blockages or other abnormalities in the blood vessels
- Pulse volume recording – Measures the volume of blood at various points in the legs
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) – Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to show blockages inside the arteries
- Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) – Uses specialized CT scans and contrast dye to show blockages inside the arteries
- Angiography – Produces high resolution x-rays of the blood vessels in the legs
The MVS team uses this information to design a treatment plan that will achieve prompt and effective resolution of the patient’s condition. Treatment recommendations may include guidance on lifestyle changes and medications to treat PAD complications (such as cholesterol or blood pressure-lowering drugs and blood thinning medications).
Delivering minimally invasive angioplasty/stenting techniques
The latest advancement in PAD treatment is minimally invasive angioplasty/stenting that virtually eliminates the risks and lengthy recovery time associated with traditional surgery. MVS specialists use advanced x-ray guidance to thread a thin catheter to the blocked or narrowed portion of the artery. A special balloon attached to the catheter is inflated to widen the area and allow blood to flow freely. In some cases a tiny mesh-metal stent is placed into the narrowed area of the artery to keep it permanently open.
MVS physicians are leading providers of this state-of-the-art treatment. With it, they have helped thousands of patients fight back against PAD and enjoy normal, active lives again.
About peripheral artery disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when the arteries in the extremities (usually the legs) become blocked due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and do not receive enough blood or oxygen. This can cause pain in the hips, legs and/or feet, and can also contribute to heart attack or stroke. Risk factors for PAD include obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. |
