Board Certified Cardiologist & Cardiovascular Physician located in Princeton, NJ & Hamilton Square, NJ
More than eight million Americans over the age of 40 have peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition that gets progressively worse and can put you at risk of serious complications. At NJ Heart & Vascular Care in Princeton and Hamilton, New Jersey, Kintur Sanghvi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, is a leader in the field of peripheral artery disease intervention. Dr. Sanghvi offers comprehensive diagnostic testing and minimally invasive interventional treatments that eliminate the blockage and restore normal blood flow. If you develop leg pain, the most common symptom of PAD, don’t wait to call the office or schedule an appointment online.
Peripheral Artery Disease Intervention Q & A
What causes peripheral artery disease?
The peripheral arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to all areas of your body except your brain and heart. You can develop PAD in any of these arteries, but it typically occurs in the legs.
PAD is caused by cholesterol and other fats that build up in the artery wall. This condition, called atherosclerosis, is a progressive disease.
Without treatment, the plaque keeps enlarging and hardening, which narrows the artery and blocks blood flow.
What symptoms signal I may need peripheral artery disease intervention?
Peripheral artery disease seldom causes symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Then you may experience:
Leg pain when walking that feels better at rest (claudication)
Leg fatigue or heaviness
Leg numbness or tingling
Slow-healing lower leg wounds
Thickened, discolored skin on the lower leg
Hair loss on the affected leg
Untreated PAD can lead to a serious complication called critical limb ischemia. Critical limb ischemia develops when blood flow is nearly cut off.
Without enough blood, the tissues in your lower leg, ankle, or foot begin to die. At this stage, you need immediate treatment to prevent amputation.
What peripheral artery disease intervention might I receive?
Dr. Sanghvi has years of experience diagnosing and treating PAD. He’s proficient in treating critical limb ischemia and performing limb salvage procedures.
He also performs minimally invasive techniques to remove plaque and restore normal circulation. Techniques include:
Peripheral orbital atherectomy
Laser atherectomy
Peripheral balloon angioplasty
Drug-eluting balloon angioplasty
Peripheral stenting
These procedures are all performed using a catheter threaded into the artery, but they use different techniques:
Angioplasty
During an angioplasty, Dr. Sanghvi inflates a balloon that pushes the plaque against the artery wall. A drug-eluting balloon releases medication that helps prevent future blockages.
Atherectomy
When the plaque is too hard for a balloon, Dr. Sanghvi performs an atherectomy. He may use a laser that vaporizes the blockage, or he may do a CSI® peripheral orbital atherectomy using a tool that rotates to shave away the plaque.
Stenting
Whether you get an angioplasty or an atherectomy, Dr. Sanghvi may also implant a stent. A stent is a wire mesh tube that stays in the artery to keep it open.
What is the pedal approach to peripheral artery disease intervention?
Dr. Sanghvi pioneered a patient-friendly technique called the pedal approach. With the pedal approach, he inserts the catheter through an artery in your foot rather than introducing the catheter through your groin.
The pedal technique is more comfortable for patients, shortens the time needed to clear the plaque, and allows you to move around shortly after the procedure.
At the first sign of leg pain or other symptoms, don’t wait to get exceptional care at NJ Heart & Vascular Care. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
