Frequently Asked Questions about Vascular Surgery

Q. What is Peripheral Vascular Disease ?

A) Peripheral Vascular Disease refers to the blockage of arteries, due to the fatty deposits, that obstruct the supply of blood & oxygen to the arms & legs.

Q. What causes it?

A) Atherosclerosis is the main cause of Peripheral Vascular Disease. It is a condition wherein the artery wall gets thickened due to the accumulation of fatty substances in the blood vessels. Some major risks of Atherosclerosis are as follows: • Smoking • Diabetes • Hypertension • High Blood Pressure • Obesity

Q. What are the different forms of Peripheral Vascular Disease ?

A) There are two types of Peripheral Vascular Disease- Functional and Organic. While Functional Peripheral Vascular Disease refers to the expansion of the artery due to a spasm, Organic Peripheral Vascular Disease is a situation wherein the arteries get clogged. Raynaud's disease is the example of Functional Peripheral Vascular and Buerger's disease is the example of Organic Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Q. What are the symptoms?

A) Some symptoms of the Peripheral Vascular Disease include

Foot Pain
Cold & numb feet
Changes in skin color of the legs
Dysfunction of leg
Gangrene
Slow healing of foot & toe wounds.
Erectile Dysfunction
Hair Loss on feet & legs

Q. What is the diagnosis procedure?

A) There are few tests which you may undergo for the examination of Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Angiography : During an angiogram, a dye is injected into the artery to show the flow of blood through arteries and an amount of blockage in the identified location.
Doppler & Ultrasound : In this method, sound waves are used to identify the presence of blockages and measure the blood flow.
Computed Tomographic Angiography : In this method, arteries in abdomen, pelvis and legs are being checked.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography : The same information what you get after a CT scan is gathered through this test.

Q. What are the treatments available for Peripheral Vascular Disease?

A) The main aim behind the treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease is to identify the risk factors and hinder the development of atherosclerosis.

Maintain a healthy weight
Eat a healthy diet which is high in proteins and less carbohydrates such as fresh fruit, vegetables and low in salt as well.
Regular Exercise
A daily walk for 30 to 60 minutes is a must for you. Walk until the pain begins and rest until it disappears. The main aim is to increase the leg movement.
Control of blood sugar in diabetic patients
Maintain low blood pressure
Avoid any medicine that causes narrowing of arteries
Stop Smoking as it is the major cause of atherosclerosis