Peripheral Vascular Disease refers to a group of slow, progressive blood disorders that affect the blood vessels outside of the heart and brain. PVD causes the narrowing of vessels that transport blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys.

You might be at risk for PVD/PAD if you have Type 1 diabetes, coronary artery disease, impaired glucose tolerance, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or have a family history of PVD or certain heart conditions. It’s also more common in men over age 50 and postmenopausal women, obese and/or inactive individuals and those who smoke.

At Palo Alto Medical Foundation, our goal in caring for PVD/PAD is to increase blood flow to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Our vascular center has a dedicated and fully staffed vascular clinic, vascular laboratory, surgery center and wound clinic to help provide comprehensive care to people suffering from arterial blockages or vein problems.  We provide a full range of treatment options and use special technology that allows our surgeons to visualize your blood vessels with great clarity.

Lifestyle Changes

You can reduce PVD, though not fix the damage already done, through strategic lifestyle changes. Our heart experts can connect you with information and services to help you quit smoking, develop a safe and manageable exercise routine and lose weight. Our Heart Smart class was designed specifically for those with high cholesterol or high triglycerides or who may be at risk for heart disease. We also offer instruction to help you manage prediabetes/diabetes and high blood pressure.

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure in which the doctor inserts a small catheter into an artery to increase blood flow.

Peripheral Artery Bypass Surgery

Peripheral artery bypass surgery restores blood flow to an artery in the leg by creating a new path for the blood to move. A blood vessel from another part of your body or a tube made of synthetic material is grafted on either side of the blockage to establish that pathway.

Atherectomy

This minimally invasive surgical procedure removes plaque in blocked arteries to the legs. The surgeon uses a special tool (Diamondback 360° ™) with a diamond-coated crown, which spins rapidly to shave away plaque while preserving the healthy tissue of the arterial wall. 

Thrombolytic Therapy and Thrombectomy

In urgent situations, your doctor may recommend thrombolytic therapy or a surgery called thrombectomy to remove a blood clot (thrombus) from a vein or artery. This restores blood flow and helps prevent a heart attack or stroke. Thrombolytic therapy involves clot-dissolving drugs, whereas thrombectomy surgically removes the clot.