Peripheral artery disease is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. The most common type is lower-extremity PAD, in which blood flow is reduced to the legs and feet.

The most common symptoms of lower-extremity PAD are cramping, fatigue, aching, pain or discomfort in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. This pain usually goes away with rest and returns when you walk again.

Treatment for peripheral artery disease focuses on reducing symptoms and preventing further progression of the condition. In most cases, lifestyle changes, exercise and claudication medications are enough to slow the progression or even reverse the symptoms of PAD.

For some patients, conservative therapy is not enough. So minimally invasive treatment or surgery may be needed.  The vascular surgeons at The Vascular Experts Rhode Island are trained to perform both minimally invasive and traditional surgery to get you walking again.  These include:

Angioplasty or stent placement: placement of a small mesh tube to keep a blocked artery open

Atherectomy: a minimally invasive procedure to remove plaque from the artery.

Bypass Surgery: uses a vein from another part of the body to “bypass” the blockage.

Your vascular surgeon will discuss your treatment options and help choose the best one procedure for you.