What is Angioplasty for PAD?

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that reduce blood flow to the extremities. Symptoms include leg cramps, slower nail growth, changes to leg skin texture and more. Additionally, having PAD increases the risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Luckily, when you treat PAD, you reduce your risk for complications. And one effective treatment is angioplasty for PAD.

Exploring Angioplasty

What's involved when you undergo angioplasty? During this procedure, we insert a catheter through a small opening so we can access your narrowed or blocked arteries. Once the catheter is positioned properly, we will inflate an attached medical balloon to break up plaque deposits and improve your blood flow. Aferward, we may also place a stent in the artery to keep it open, but this decision will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the conditions noted during your procedure.

Angioplasty for PAD typically lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. As a minimally-invasive procedure, patients don't require general anesthesia and will typically avoid overnight hospital stays.

What's the Angioplasty for PAD Success Rate?

When you come into the office with peripheral artery disease symptoms, we assess disease progression to determine your ideal treatment protocol. (If angioplasty isn't your best option, we can also treat PAD via minimally invasive atherectomy.) However candidates for angioplasty enjoy excellent results (this study revealed the procedure carries a 94% success rate, as long as doctors can access your blocked artery). Even better? Angioplasty is associated with very few complications, making it a safe peripheral artery disease treatment.

What to Expect from Recovery

While most people go home on the same day as the angioplasty procedure, you won't be able to drive for at least a week afterward. Still, you'll likely be able to walk the day after undergoing angioplasty, and most patients are cleared to resume regular activities within a week of their procedure. Of course, each patient is different, but you can enjoy a faster and smoother recovery by following all post-procedure care instructions.

Angioplasty for PAD in Georgia

Our Georgia Endovascular specialists often treat PAD with angioplasty because this minimally-invasive procedure is a low-risk, highly effective treatment option. But, is this the right treatment for you? Request a consultation with our PAD specialists and, when you come into the office, we’ll review all your treatment options.