An angioplasty is less invasive than a bypass. It does not involve making major cuts incisions in your body and is usually performed under local anaesthetic as a day procedure. This means you'll be able to go home the same day you have the operation, and you may recover more quickly.
For this reason, angioplasty is generally preferred to bypass surgery, unless angioplasty is not suitable or has failed previously. However, the results of a bypass are generally considered to be longer-lasting than those of an angioplasty. This means the procedure may need to be repeated less often than an angioplasty. Both angioplasty and bypass surgery carry a small risk of serious complications, such as a heart attack, stroke and even death.
While there are not many studies comparing bypass surgery and angioplasty for PAD, there's some evidence to suggest that the risk of serious complications is similar in both. Before recommending treatment, a team of specialist surgeons, doctors and nurses will discuss options with you. This will include the potential risks and benefits. Page last reviewed: 31 October Next review due: 31 October These treatments can also help reduce your risk of developing other types of cardiovascular disease CVD , such as: coronary heart disease stroke heart attack Treatment is very important, because having PAD is a sign that your blood vessels are unhealthy.
Lifestyle changes The 2 most important lifestyle changes that you can make if you're diagnosed with PAD are exercising more regularly and stopping smoking, if you smoke.
Exercise Evidence suggests that regular exercise helps to reduce the severity and frequency of PAD symptoms, while also reducing the risk of developing another CVD. Other lifestyle changes As well as exercising and stopping smoking, there are a number of other lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing other forms of CVD. These include: eating a healthy diet maintaining a healthy weight cutting down on alcohol Mental wellbeing PAD can cause severe pain and disrupt your life.
Read about: How to be happier Recognising if you have anxiety Diabetes Having poorly controlled diabetes can also make your PAD symptoms worse and raise your chances of developing other forms of CVD. Medicines Different medicines can be used to treat the underlying causes of PAD, while also reducing your risk of developing another CVD. Statins If blood tests show that your levels of LDL cholesterol "bad cholesterol" are high, you'll be prescribed a type of medication called a statin.
Many people who take statins experience no or very few side effects, although others experience some side effects, such as: indigestion headaches feeling sick nausea muscle aches Antihypertensives Antihypertensives are a group of medications used to treat high blood pressure hypertension. Side effects of ACE inhibitors include: dizziness tiredness or weakness headaches a persistent dry cough Most of these side effects pass in a few days, although some people find they have a dry cough for longer.
Blood-thinning medicines One of the biggest potential dangers if you have atherosclerosis is a piece of fatty deposit plaque breaking off from your artery wall. Blood-thinning medicines you may be prescribed if you have PAD include: Low-dose aspirin clopidogrel rivaroxaban Naftidrofuryl oxalate You may be offerered Naftidrofuryl oxalate if you have leg pain triggered by exercise intermittent claudication.
Side effects of naftidrofuryl oxalate can include: feeling sick abdominal pain diarrhoea rashes You'll normally be advised to take naftidrofuryl oxalate for around 3 to 6 months, to see if it improves your symptoms. Surgery and procedures In a few cases, a procedure to restore the flow of blood through the arteries in your legs may be recommended.
There are 2 main types of revascularisation treatment for PAD: angioplasty — where a blocked or narrowed section of artery is widened by inflating a tiny balloon inside the vessel artery bypass graft — where blood vessels are taken from another part of your body and used to bypass the blockage in an artery Which procedure is best? Without treatment, more serious symptoms can develop, such as poor circulation in the feet and toes, ulcers of the lower legs, ankles, or feet, or even gangrene.
Patients most likely to develop intermittent claudication are those who already have peripheral artery disease, typically those who are 50 or older. Intermittent claudication may be slightly more common in men than in women. However, not all cases of intermittent claudication are correctly diagnosed, primarily because patients have mild symptoms and consider the pain a normal part of aging.
The diagnosis of intermittent claudication is usually made by taking a careful history of the pain, since it occurs in such a classic pattern.
Several tests can help determine if the blood flow in the peripheral arteries is abnormal. Calculating the difference in blood pressures measured in the arm and the ankle, called the ankle-brachial index, can determine if blood flow is abnormal and the severity of the condition. Other tests that can be used to examine the peripheral circulation include Doppler ultrasound, MRI, and angiographic imaging using an injectable dye. Changes in lifestyle that can positively affect symptoms of intermittent claudication include smoking cessation, cholesterol reduction through diet, exercise, and medications if needed , and a exercise program to slowly condition the leg muscles and increase the amount of exercise that can be tolerated without pain.
If these measures are not effective, there are drugs approved for the treatment of intermittent claudication. If a patient has peripheral artery disease as well as intermittent claudication, antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin or clopidogrel can increase blood flow and prevent blood clots from forming in the narrowed arteries. Cilostazol is an antiplatelet medication that helps patients with intermittent claudication walk further without pain while controlling cholesterol.
Pentoxifylline keeps the blood flowing more smoothly by preventing blood from sticking to the sides of atherosclerotic vessels. Currently, scientists are studying the efficacy of other drugs in improving blood flow and relieving symptoms.
The contrast dye makes the arteries and veins show up clearly on the X-ray. Claudication is often first treated by making lifestyle changes. This can reduce your risk factors for peripheral artery disease PAD.
Medicine and surgery may be needed in some cases. Treatment may include:. Treating related health problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar levels. This may involve changes in diet, exercise, or medicine. In severe cases, blood flow may be fully or almost fully blocked. Then a procedure or surgery may be needed. This may include:. A tube catheter is used to make a larger opening in the vessel to increase blood flow.
Often, a tiny coil stent is expanded inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area. The stent is left in place. In very rare cases, if all other treatments have not worked, the leg may need to be removed amputated.
People who smoke or who have diabetes are at increased risk for amputation. Hardened arteries atherosclerosis that cause claudication in your legs can also affect the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
For this reason, it is very important to reduce your risk factors for atherosclerosis. This can help prevent claudication as well as heart attack and stroke. Claudication is pain in your thigh, calf, or buttocks that happens when you walk a certain distance.
As the condition gets worse, the pain occurs when you walk shorter distances. Over time, it can become too painful to walk. This is when narrowed or blocked arteries reduce the blood flow to your arms and legs. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes claudication? Who is at risk for claudication? They include: Smoking Diabetes Being overweight Not being active High cholesterol High blood pressure Family history of atherosclerosis or claudication Older age 55 for men, 60 for women What are the symptoms of claudication?
Claudication is a symptom of a narrowing or blockage of an artery. Typical symptoms of claudication include: Pain, a burning feeling, or a tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when you walk Shiny, hairless, blotchy foot skin that may get sores The leg is pale when raised elevated and red when lowered Cold feet Impotence in men Leg pain at night in bed Pain when you are resting is a sign that your blocked arteries have become worse.
How is claudication diagnosed?
0コメント