Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), sometimes called peripheral vascular disease or lower extremity arterial disease, is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Without adequate blood flow, your vital organs, arms, legs and feet can suffer lasting damage, and you may be at risk for life-threatening heart attack and stroke. At NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, board certified interventional radiologists from ColumbiaDoctors, the faculty practice of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, treat PAD with angioplasty and stenting, allowing patients to quickly regain their quality of life.
What is Peripheral Artery Disease?
Arteries carry oxygenated blood and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. As you age, plaque made up of cholesterol or fats, calcium, and fibrous scar tissue can build up in the arteries and cause narrowing and stiffening—a process called atherosclerosis. This results in poor circulation, which prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching body tissues. When plaque builds up to the point that it restricts circulation in the arms and legs, it is called peripheral artery disease (PAD). People with PAD often experience pain and are at an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
If you have been diagnosed with PAD, your physician may refer you to an interventional radiologist for angioplasty and stenting.
What are Angioplasty & Stenting?
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure during which an interventional radiologist inflates a small balloon inside a blood vessel to eliminate or reduce areas of narrowing. The goal is to restore adequate blood flow to the limbs, a process called revascularization. During the procedure, your interventional radiologist may also implant a tiny mesh-metal tube called a stent into the narrowed area, which remains as a permanent support.
How do I get ready for the procedure?
On the night before your procedure, eat a light meal and then do not eat or drink anything after midnight. We will provide you with more detailed information about which medications you may take in the days before and on the morning of the procedure. Plan to have someone bring you home after the procedure.
What will happen during the procedure?
After you arrive at the interventional radiology suite and change into a gown, you will lie face-up on the procedure table. To help relax you and block any pain, we’ll give you a combination of medicines called “conscious sedation” intravenously. Using X-ray and/or ultrasound image guidance, your doctor will insert a long, very thin tube called a catheter into a small incision above an artery in your arm or leg and thread it through the artery to the blocked area. Once the catheter reaches the blockage, a tiny balloon attached to the catheter tip is inflated and deflated several times to push the plaque against the artery walls and widen the vessel. If your doctor is also placing a stent, they will insert it through the artery using the catheter; once at the site of the blockage, it will expand automatically or with the help of an attached balloon. The entire procedure takes about an hour.
Are there any risks?
Angioplasty is a safe procedure and any serious complications (reaction to contrast dye used before the procedure; a blood clot in the treated artery; a ruptured blood vessel) occur in less than 2 to 4% of cases. Other complications can include bleeding at the site of catheter insertion, blood pooling in the soft tissue around the affected artery (pseudoaneurysm), or arteriovenous fistula, an abnormal connection created between the artery and vein.
After the procedure
Most people go home within a day of the procedure but remain in bed for six to 24 hours to allow the access site to heal. You should avoid lifting more than 10 pounds for the first few days to avoid putting extra pressure on the insertion site. We’ll provide you with additional instructions before you leave the interventional radiology suite.
Why Choose Us
A world-class interventional radiology team
The team at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley includes some of the most nationally and internationally renowned interventional radiologists. In addition to caring for patients, they are also involved in educating residents, fellows, and medical students and take part in a wide range of research endeavors. Our interventional radiologists frequently collaborate with specialists throughout the NewYork-Presbyterian healthcare network, placing them at the forefront of advanced medical imaging and minimally invasive treatments.
Expertise in angioplasty and stenting for peripheral artery disease
Angioplasty and stenting for peripheral artery disease is a complex and challenging procedure that requires expertise and a cautious approach. At NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, our board-certified interventional radiologists from ColumbiaDoctors offer unmatched skill and experience in angioplasty and stenting, even in the most complicated cases.
Cutting-edge technologies
At NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, we stay committed to incorporating the latest cutting-edge imaging technologies into your care, including X-ray fluoroscopy, computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. Each new generation of equipment provides better outcomes and reduces the patient’s exposure to radiation.
Book a Radiology Appointment Today
Patients can book Radiology appointments online via NYP.org/Connect as long as the patient has an Epic Order. Radiology appointments for X-Ray, ultrasound, bone density, echocardiogram, and limited CT and MRI scans.