Surgery may be used for PAD that is causing health problems. It may also be used when other methods fail or there is a danger of limb loss. The main goal is to get blood to flow better.
Bypass Grafting
Bypass grafting may be done when blood cannot flow to a limb. It removes a healthy blood vessel from the leg or somewhere else in the body. The vessel is attached to the problem artery just above and just below the part that is not working as it should. Blood will then be able to go around it by moving through the new blood vessel.
Percutaneous Angioplasty
Percutaneous angioplasty uses tubes to help view and open vessels. A thin tube is passed into larger arteries like those in your groin and passed through vessels to the blocked part. Tools can then be used to remove or break up clots, press down on plaque, or place devices that help keep vessels open. Cryoplasty is one more method. It uses nitrous oxide to cool and open the artery.
| Balloon Angioplasty |
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References
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/peripheral-artery-disease. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/PAD.htm. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-artery-disease-pad-of-lower-extremities. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of upper extremities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-artery-disease-pad-of-upper-extremities. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 03/25/2022