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Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) at VIP

Peripheral Vascular Disease is narrowing of the blood vessels supplying oxygen rich blood to the brain, arms, legs, and organs of the abdomen. Symptoms of blood vessel narrowing include pain, either at rest or during exercise, [especially walking (claudication)], abnormal temperature (cool to touch), abnormal sensation (numbness, burning), and discoloration (pallor). The severity of symptoms is broad, ranging from mild symptoms with slow onset, to abrupt severe symptoms. Symptoms in the abdomen are organ specific, and can manifest as pain after eating, or hypertension, in the case of renal artery disease.

Interventional Radiologists are specialists trained to diagnose peripheral vascular disease. The overall process usually begins with recognition of potential vascular disease; the imaging of PVD consists of non-invasive examination (physical exam, ultrasound, pressure measurements, CT angiography). Once PVD has been established, or is strongly suspected, an interventional radiologist is the specialist of choice for management.

An angiogram is the next step. This is a test performed in a special X ray suite, with sedation, a needle, and a catheter, used to deliver x ray dye (contrast) to the suspected vessel. Many specialists perform angiograms; only interventional radiologists spend years in training and fellowship dedicated to evaluation and treatment of PVD.

If a lesion is found, your interventional radiologist is the specialist most qualified to determine whether it is treatable by minimally invasive techniques, such as angioplasty (balloon inflation within a vessel), stent placement (covered and non-covered expandable tubes) used to restore a vessel to the correct size. Not all lesions are best treated by endovascular techniques, and interventional radiologists work closely with vascular surgeons to assure the most appropriate care.

Interventional radiologists at VIP are also experts in management of acutely injured or clotted vessels; thrombectomy (removal of clots) and thrombolysis (use of medicines and devices to dissolve clots) are additional tools we use. Other devices used to treat vessels, such as cryotherapy balloons, cutting balloons, and atherectomy devices, are used in our practice.

At VIP, interventional radiologists are available in our outpatient offices, and in our network of hospitals. We are available 24/7/365 and we are also experts in follow-up care and continuing patient management.

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