Peripheral artery disease (PAD), also known as arterial occlusive disease, is the obstruction or narrowing of aortic passages--including lumen and its major branches. This blockage interrupts blood flow, usually to the feet and legs. The prognosis will vary depending on the occlusion's site.
The symptoms vary depending on the location of the occlusion. For example: in femoral arteries, having pain in the feet, no pulse in ankles and feet, and pallor or coolness in legs are symptoms. Comparatively, occlusion in the neck or vertebral arteries can lead to a lack of motor control, confusion, headache, vertigo, vision disturbances and other neurological dysfunction. Consequentially, this ischemia can cause skin ulceration, gangrene (tissue death), and limb loss in extreme cases.
PAD is usually diagnosed with x-rays and ultrasounds. X-ray examination of the arteries (arteriography) is useful in determining the …show more content…
For mild incidences, exercise, dieting, and ceasing to smoke may increase blood flow. Other times, medicine is necessary--for carotid artery occlusion, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, and asprin are used. Alternatively, acute peripheral artery disease usually requires surgery; common surgeries are laser angioplasty (the use of excision and lasers to clear the obstruction), balloon angioplasty (the use of balloon inflation to clear the obstruction), embolectomy (the use of a balloon-tipped catheter to remove it), or thromboendarterectomy (the direct removal of obstruction).
In conclusion, peripheral artery disease is a cardiovascular disease in which blood flow is interrupted by the blocking or shrinking of a lumen or aortic branch, which can cause many other health complications such as neurological dysfunction, shock, skin ulceration, and severe ischemia. It can be treated in many different ways depending on its location, including lifestyle changes, medicine or
The symptoms vary depending on the location of the occlusion. For example: in femoral arteries, having pain in the feet, no pulse in ankles and feet, and pallor or coolness in legs are symptoms. Comparatively, occlusion in the neck or vertebral arteries can lead to a lack of motor control, confusion, headache, vertigo, vision disturbances and other neurological dysfunction. Consequentially, this ischemia can cause skin ulceration, gangrene (tissue death), and limb loss in extreme cases.
PAD is usually diagnosed with x-rays and ultrasounds. X-ray examination of the arteries (arteriography) is useful in determining the …show more content…
For mild incidences, exercise, dieting, and ceasing to smoke may increase blood flow. Other times, medicine is necessary--for carotid artery occlusion, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, and asprin are used. Alternatively, acute peripheral artery disease usually requires surgery; common surgeries are laser angioplasty (the use of excision and lasers to clear the obstruction), balloon angioplasty (the use of balloon inflation to clear the obstruction), embolectomy (the use of a balloon-tipped catheter to remove it), or thromboendarterectomy (the direct removal of obstruction).
In conclusion, peripheral artery disease is a cardiovascular disease in which blood flow is interrupted by the blocking or shrinking of a lumen or aortic branch, which can cause many other health complications such as neurological dysfunction, shock, skin ulceration, and severe ischemia. It can be treated in many different ways depending on its location, including lifestyle changes, medicine or