Imaging & Interventional Specialists are experienced and successful the most feared endpoint of peripheral arterial disease: Critical limb ischemia threatens the viability of the limb and courses rest pain, ulcers or gangrene. Our board-certified vascular physicians offer in office diagnostic testing and will customize a treatment plan for your condition. Our medical team will focus on treating your end-stage peripheral arterial disease to maximize your chance of salvaging your threatened limb.
What is Critical Limb Ischemia?
As we get older fat can deposit in our arteries and can lead to strokes, heart attacks and peripheral arterial disease. The fatty plaques that build up in the legs can lead to bring sensations in the feet, numbness, cramps, sores and ulcers. Your skin may become shiny and brittle and there may be hair loss. If not treated plaque buildup can lead to critical limb ischemia where your tissues do not get enough nutrients and begin to die. This can result in rest pain, gangrene and the need for amputation.
What Causes Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Peripheral arterial disease is caused by narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis causing decreased blood flow. Risk factors include age ( greater than 50 years old), history of heart disease, family history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure or PAD. Other risk factors which can be treated include: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, smoking, and being overweight.
How Do Imaging & Interventional Specialists Find Out Whether You Have Critical Limb Ischemia and Need Limb Salvage?
The Imaging & Interventional Specialist team has in office diagnostic technologies to help identify whether you have end-stage peripheral arterial disease, how severe it is and what techniques will assist with limb salvage. Besides our careful history and physical exam, the team at Imaging & Interventional Specialists may obtain ultrasound studies, blood pressure measurements (ankle-brachial index), tissue oxygenation levels, angiography or other advanced imaging (for example Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to aid with accurate diagnoses and help develop your treatment plan, as needed.
What Advanced “Pinhole” Procedures Does Imaging & Interventional Specialists Offer for End-State Peripheral Arterial Disease?
For critical limb ischemia or end-stage peripheral arterial disease (PAD) Imaging & Interventional Specialists will determine if non-surgical vascular interventional radiology (VIR) procedures can address your situation or whether surgery is a better option. The aim is limb salvage and to prevent or put off amputation where possible. Lifestyle changes include exercise and quitting smoking. Aggressive treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol is important. Medicines that improve blood flow and relax the blood vessels may also be of benefit.
For critical limb ischemia or end-stage peripherial arterial disease Imaging & Interventional Specialist MDs may use diagnostic arterial ultrasound, ankle/brachial index blood pressure measurement and tissue oxygenation measurements before using “pinhole” procedures such as:
- Angiography taking pictures of your arteries to diagnose where there are problems
- Angioplasty introducing a small balloon to open up areas that are closed due to plaque
- Stent placement placing a cylindrical brace to hold your artery open
- Atherectomy introducing a tiny instrument that will crear some of the plaque on the inside of your disease artery
Imaging & Interventional Specialists “Pinhole” Procedures: Fast Recovery, Less Risk, Less Pain, Comfortable Setting
Our experienced board-certified specialists successfully perform “pinhole” procedures every day offering this region leading, state-of-the-art solutions to limb salvage fromcritical limb ischemia or end-stage peripheral arterial disease.. Our non-surgical image guided procedures are cutting edge technology without the cutting, without the scalpel. You leave with a Band-Aid!
- Procedures may be done in a comfortable outpatient setting with familiar friendly staff
- Pinhole procedures offer fast recovery, less risk, and less pain
Why Imaging & Interventional Specialists?
Imaging & Interventional Specialists are leaders in interventional radiology and experts in the non-surgical procedures that will salvage your limb and prevent or put off an amputation by addressing your critical limb ischemia caused by end-stage peripheral arterial disease.
Using state-of-the-art equipment, our experienced board-certified specialists are focused on your best outcome.