Atherectomy safely does help clear away calcified plaque and also keeps blood vessels open, thus easing painful symptoms. Heart problems faced by patients can be of this treatment process.
A 2020 study does suggest that orbital atherectomy effectively does open up blocked leg arteries 90 percent of the time, while laser atherectomy does achieve similarly improved blood flow 76 percent of the time.
What is an atherectomy?
During the atherectomy procedure, the doctor tries to clear plaque from the affected artery via a catheter (small tube) that is inserted via a needle puncture into one’s artery. Traditionally, doctors do make use of a variety of methods to clear the artery, including cutting away the blockage with tiny blades.
People do require to be aware of the fact that the same plaque buildup that does tend to reduce blood flow in one’s arteries feeding one’s heart can also indeed affect the vessels thus supplying vital, nutrient-rich blood to one’s legs as well as feet.
Known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), this sort of progressive condition does indeed affect over 8.5 million Americans and can also greatly impair circulation to one’s legs and cause debilitating symptoms that include varying degrees of pain, decreased mobility, and slow-to-heal skin ulcers and infections.
There well well-known specialists who have the required expertise at treating circulatory issues like PAD. Highly skilled medical professionals do have much to say about PAD and do focus on why minimally invasive atherectomy may turn out to be one’s best option for restoring vital blood flow to peripheral arteries.
Understanding PAD
Unlike the coronary arteries, which carry oxygenated blood to one’s heart muscle, peripheral arteries do supply blood to one’s abdomen, legs, as well as other areas away from or “peripheral” to one’s heart.
PAD does cause the narrowing of these vital blood vessels and also most commonly affects the arteries that feed one’s legs.
Caused by similar conditions that can damage coronary arteries, such as plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) related to elevated cholesterol, PAD can lead to symptoms like:
- Persistent swelling in one’s feet and also ankles
- Purple-to-red skin discoloration
- Pain with activities such as walking (claudication) does of course resolve with rest but may also become persistent as the disease advances
- Slow-to-heal or even non-healing sores (ulcers) on a person’s feet, ankles, legs
- Numbness and/or weakness in one’s legs
- Slow-to-no hair growth on an individual’s legs
Left untreated, PAD can indeed lead to life-threatening infection (gangrene) and also will eventually result in limb amputation.
Treating PAD
Treatments for PAD are indeed often similar to those suggested for coronary artery disease. Depending on the extent of a person’s disease as well as also underlying cause, one’s therapy may include:
- Dietary changes
- Weight loss, if required
- Medication to actually lower cholesterol
- Effective management of diabetes, hypertension, as well as other conditions that contribute to PAD.
Another effective treatment for PAD is indeed atherectomy, which is no doubt a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment meant to clear a blocked artery and also restore normal blood flow.
Often laser atherectomy is recommended. This technique makes use of advanced laser technology to essentially vaporize the blockage and also restore blood flow. Preference for this method is due to its high effectiveness, requiring only local anesthesia, and also allowing the person to return to normal activities within a day or two.
Conclusion
No doubt the most effective cardiac care available, including innovative treatment for PAD, help can be sought from popular clinics or even online consultations.