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Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a serious vascular condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. Over 190,000 amputations occur each year as a result of PAD and less than 50% of those patients have had any PAD screening. For this reason, Drs. Salar Hakham and Victor Shi of ART Vascular created the Limb Salvage Center.
ART Vascular & Interventional Specialists are experienced and successful in dealing with consequences of peripheral arterial disease including leg cramps, burning and numbness, skin changes, leg ulcers, leg discoloration, leg wounds and gangrene. Our board-certified vascular physicians Dr. Salar Hakham and Dr. Victor Shi offer in office diagnostic testing and will customize a treatment plan for your condition. Our medical team will focus on treating the peripheral arterial disease to eliminate or minimize leg pain, leg cramps, leg ulcers and leg discoloration.
As we get older fat, sugar and cholesterol 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 tingling 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, gangrene and the need for amputation.
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 PVD. Other risk factors which can be treated with medication, diet, and a structured exercise program include: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, smoking, and being overweight.
Our team of vascular specialists are equipped with in office diagnostic technologies to help identify whether you have peripheral arterial disease and how severe it is. Besides our careful history and physical exam, the team at ART Vascular may obtain ultrasound studies, blood pressure measurements (ankle-brachial index), tissue oxygenation levels, angiography or other advanced imaging (for example Magnetic Resonance Imaging or CT Angiography) to aid with accurate diagnoses and help develop your treatment plan, if needed.
For peripheral vascular disease (PAD), ART Vascular Specialists will determine if minimally invasive vascular procedures can address your situation or whether lifestyle changes, treatment of pre-existing conditions, or surgery is a better option. 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.
To detect peripheral vascular disease, our specialists may obtain ultrasound studies, blood pressure measurements (ankle-brachial index), tissue oxygenation levels, angiography or other advanced imaging (for example Magnetic Resonance Imaging or CT Angiography) to aid with accurate diagnoses and help develop your treatment plan, as needed.
Angiography: (taking pictures of your arteries to diagnose where the blockages may be)
Angioplasty: (introducing a small balloon to open up areas that are closed or narrowed due to plaque)
Stent placement: (placing a cylindrical brace to hold your artery open)
Atherectomy: (introducing a tiny instrument that will clear some of the plaque on the inside of your diseased artery)
Our experienced board-certified vascular specialists successfully perform “pinhole” procedures every day offering state-of-the-art solutions to peripheral arterial disease. Our minimally invasive image guided procedures are cutting edge technology without the cutting, without the scalpel. You leave with a Band-Aid!
ART Vascular Specialists are experienced and successful in treating the most feared endpoint of peripheral arterial disease: Critical limb ischemia. This condition threatens the viability of the limb and causes 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.
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.
High blood sugar level due to diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves. Vessels can become narrower and atherosclerosis can develop. Diabetic arterial disease usually affects the small arteries (including those leading to the eyes, kidneys, fingers, feet and toes) causing nerve and circulation problems.
The ART Vascular Specialists are experienced and successful in dealing with consequences of diabetic vascular disease including swelling, non-healing ulcers or sores and burning sensations. Our board-certified vascular physicians offer in office diagnostic testing and will customize a treatment plan for your diabetic vascular disease. Our medical team will focus on treating your diabetic vascular disease to eliminate or minimize ulcers or sores, swelling and unusual sensations.
Factors that increase your risk for diabetic vascular disease include how long you have had diabetes, how well your diabetes is controlled, whether you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, how much you exercise, your diet, whether you are overweight, and if you are a smoker.
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