PAD Surgery at North Texas Surgical Specialists
A common condition, peripheral artery disease (PAD) often causes painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs, or calves. The pain starts while you are exercising, but continues after you stop. PAD increases your risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
PAD is a circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs. When you develop peripheral artery disease, your extremities — usually your legs — don’t receive enough blood flow to keep up with demand. This causes symptoms, most notably leg pain when walking.
Peripheral artery disease is likely to be a sign of a more widespread accumulation of fatty deposits in your arteries. This condition may be reducing blood flow to your heart and brain, as well as your legs. Fortunately, our PAD surgeons in Fort Worth, TX are highly skilled and experienced in treating this disease. Our holistic approach and professional solutions can help you out, and resolve your problems.
How is PAD diagnosed?
- A thorough history focusing on risk factors like age, high blood pressure, smoking, family history, and history of heart disease
- A complete physical exam with special attention to the neck arteries, heart sounds, and pulses in the legs
- Simple non-invasive tests include:
- Ankle-Brachial Index:
in which a pressure cuff is placed on the arm and both legs and the pressure ratio between them is calculated - QuantaFlo:
an innovative device the quickly assesses the flow of blood in the arm and legs using volume plethysmography
- Ankle-Brachial Index:
- Duplex ultrasound:
in which an external US (no radiation) is used to look inside the arteries and evaluate for any narrowing or blockage. It also measures how fast the blood is moving inside the arteries, which allows us to estimate the degree of narrowing. - CT:
This usually requires the placement of an IV to introduce a dye into the arteries and involves radiation, but can provide a roadmap of the arteries that is extremely helpful - Diagnostic angiogram:
This is an invasive procedure that usually requires sedation and direct access to arteries, typically in the groin. It requires the injection of dye directly into the artery. It can be both diagnostic and therapeutic.
Why NTSS?
Our providers are well trained to identify the early signs of PAD and manage them appropriately.
- We believe in conservative measures prior to proceeding with any intervention
- We use the most advanced technologies and keep up with new updates in techniques and devices. To list a few:
- New stents
- Various atherectomy devices that use rotational, orbital, and directional atherectomy
- Intra-vascular imaging to properly identify and treat the disease precisely
- Alternative access points for difficult and non-conventional conditions, including arm access and pedal access
- Revascularization of the pedal arch
- Targeting specific anatomical angiosomes to supply flow where it is most needed
- Unlike some other providers who can only perform endovascular procedures, we perform both endovascular and open interventions (and can combine both). This does not limit us to a specific intervention and allows us to tailor the best option for each individual patient.
What is PAD?
Peripheral artery disease occurs when cholesterol and other fats attach to an artery wall, a problem more likely to occur when the wall has experienced damage due to an underlying condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Over time, calcium and other substances join the fats, making the plaque slowly enlarge and harden. This condition, called atherosclerosis, narrows the artery and restricts blood flow through the vessel.
What are the symptoms of PAD?
These depend on the location of the arteries affected. When it affects arteries supplying blood to the legs, you might develop symptoms like:
- Leg pain while walking that feels better after resting (claudication)
- Leg fatigue, numbness, or heaviness
- Leg or foot discoloration
- Non-healing leg or foot wounds, ulcers or gangrene
- Hair loss or slow hair growth on the leg
When PAD goes untreated, the lack of oxygen-rich blood causes critical limb ischemia. Without oxygen, skin and other tissues deteriorate, and dangerous infections and gangrene can develop.
How is PAD Treated by The Best PAD Surgeons In Fort Worth, TX?
Medical/conservative therapy
- Many patients with PAD have mild symptoms and do not require an intervention.
- Aspirin or Plavix (alone or in combination) along with a cholesterol lowering drug. This also helps reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke
- Pletal: A very safe drug that promotes improved blood flow to the legs. It usually takes 2-3 months before the effects are apparent
- Smoke cessation: Extremely important to prevent disease progression
- Exercise program
- Weight loss and healthy habits
Endovascular options
- These are typically performed under sedation and make use of minimally invasive advanced technologies to go inside the arteries and perform a variety of interventions that include:
- Angioplasty: Inflating a balloon to open up an artery
- Stenting: Placement of a scaffold to support the artery from the inside
- Atherectomy: Involves “drilling” through the blockage to restore the lumen
Open surgical options
- Typically require general anesthesia
- Endarterecotmy: in which the involved artery is opened up, cleaned out, and usually closed with a patch
- Bypass surgery: in which a pipe is used to re-route the blood around the blocked segment
PAD surgery is a highly effective treatment option for those suffering from peripheral artery disease. The procedure can help to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of serious complications, such as amputation.
It’s important to note that not everyone with PAD will require surgery and it will depend on the severity and progression of the disease. It is crucial to contact our team of experienced surgeons to determine if PAD surgery is the best course of action for you. With the latest techniques and technology, our PAD surgeons in Fort Worth, TX can help to restore the quality of life for those with this condition. Contact us for more information or schedule your consultation!
Testimonials from our Patients
Maxia M.
PatientDr. Long Nguyen saved my life. The surgery was very complicated and he is my hero. The second surgery was excellent. I recommend North Texas Surgical Specialists to all of my friends and family.
James S.
PatientThe staff was very kind and helpful. Dr. Halbouni was very patient-oriented and took the time to explain everything with drawings and answered all of my questions in ways I could understand.
Dianna W.
PatientI love Dr. Jay Patel. He has a very good bedside manner, very professional & nice. I absolutely would recommend him to everyone. I love him & I thank him for everything & giving me my life back. I will forever be in his debt. He is so awesome! Thank you!
Sylvia T.
PatientDr Jay Patel performed two surgeries on me the first surgery was a fundoplication and a second surgery was a hiatal hernia repair. I am able to actually drink water now and not get heartburn and not have it come up through my nose. You listened to what I had to say about what my problem was and able to fix with no other doctor would do they just kept overlooking everything so once again I want to tell you thank you so very much this is a big change in my life after going through this for so many years.
