Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment for you. This will depend on the how severe your PAD/PVD is and whether you have any complications. In many cases, lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy foods and following an exercise program, and medicines can properly manage the condition.
If additional treatment is needed, your doctor might recommend a surgical procedure.
At UK HealthCare, you might be referred to cardiac rehabilitation for a supervised exercise program.
- Aspirin therapy: In some patients, over-the-counter aspirin can thin the blood and reduce the risk for clots that can cause heart attacks or strokes. You should only use daily aspirin therapy if it is recommended by your doctor.
- Blood pressure medicines: Also known as antihypertensives, blood pressure medicines are prescription drugs that help lower high blood pressure. Many types of blood pressure medicines are available. They can reduce blood pressure by:
- Lowering the heart rate
- Reducing blood output
- Removing excess water and sodium from the body
- Relaxing the blood vessels
- Helping blood vessels dilate
- Blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants): This type of medicine helps prevent blood clots from developing.
- Cholesterol medicines: These medicines help lower cholesterol in your blood by:
- Reducing the liver’s production of cholesterol
- Lowering the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food
- Lowering triglycerides
- Increasing high-density lipoprotein (the “good” cholesterol)
Angioplasty is a procedure to open arteries that are blocked or narrowed by plaque. It can be used in arteries throughout the body to restore blood flow.
Angioplasty is performed with either sedation to allow you to relax or while you’re asleep under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a catheter into a blood vessel through a small incision in the arm or groin. The doctor then guides the catheter to the site of the blockage. A balloon at the tip of the catheter then inflates, compressing the plaque against the artery wall.
In many cases, doctors use a small metal mesh tube called a stent, which is placed through the catheter. Once inside the artery, the stent helps keep it open to improve blood flow. The stent may be coated in a medicine that helps prevent the artery from narrowing again.
After angioplasty, you’ll remain at the hospital for at least a few hours, possibly overnight. Your doctor may prescribe blood thinners to prevent additional clots. You can usually resume normal activities within a week. Your doctor will guide you on how often you will need follow-up visits to check that the angioplasty is working well and the stent, if you have one, is still in place.
Vascular bypass surgery creates a new path for blood to flow around a blocked or damaged artery. For this procedure, doctors use either a synthetic graft or a healthy vein from another part of your body. They locate the area of the blockage and then sew the graft above and below the blocked artery section. The blood is then rerouted through the graft.
After bypass surgery, you will stay in the hospital for a few days. After that, you may need to regain your strength and mobility with outpatient rehabilitation. Your doctor will let you know when to return to the office for a follow-up visit to have your stitches removed.
