Arterial Blockage & Reconstruction

Atherosclerosis is a disease process causing arteries (the nutritional lifeline to every bodily organ) to develop plaque along their inner walls. This is like sludge developing in a pipe, which disturbs and/or blocks the blood flow through the artery (hence the term "poor circulation"). Plaque commonly forms in the iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries. Plaque causes the artery wall to become stiff and hard, thus the term, "hardening of the arteries."

Symptoms
Symptoms will vary depending on the extent and location of the blockage. The early signs are pain in the calf area upon walking (a charley-horse like cramp), but relieved when resting. As the disease process develops, more severe symptoms such as foot pain at rest or non-healing leg and foot ulcers develop.

Diagnosis
Physical examination may reveal the pulses in your legs or feet to be diminished. Doppler ultrasound can easily confirm the diagnosis. The painless exam is performed both while you rest and after a few minutes of exercise. If surgery is recommended, an arteriogram will be performed. This enables the physician to see the precise location of the blockage. This is an x-ray where dye is injected into the blood vessels and a road map like image of the open and blocked vessels is created.

Treatment
Treatment is recommended when the symptoms begin interfering with the patient's life-style or when a leg is threatened. Treatment includes balloon dilatation or bypass surgery. Treatment depends on the severity of the problem created by the decrease in circulation to the extremity. The range in treatment varies from medication, in mild to moderate circulation impairment, to balloon angioplasty and surgical intervention with bypass procedures for more advanced, limb-threatening blockages.