Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries or blood clots reduce blood flow to your limbs. When you develop PAD, your extremities, usually your legs, don’t receive sufficient blood flow. Hardening of the arteries, in addition to increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke, also increases your risk of PAD.
Many Canadians do not seek treatment for chronic pain in their legs, hips or feet and think it to be part of getting older. Clogged arteries decrease blood supply to the legs, which can cause pain when walking (claudication), and eventually could even lead to pain at rest, gangrene and amputation (critical limb ischemia).
The most common symptom of PAD is called intermittent claudication, which is painful cramping in the leg or hip that occurs when walking or exercising and typically disappears when the person stops the activity. Other symptoms include:
SAVI Radiologists work very closely with the Divisions of Vascular Surgery and Podiatry to ensure all patients receive a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Referrals for critical limb ischemia and lifestyle limiting claudication should be sent to Vascular surgery and the Zivot Limb Preservation Clinic at the Peter Lougheed Hospital.
Although PAD can happen at any age, those at highest risk are:
Mayfair’s interventional radiologists perform general IR procedures at Rockyview General Hospital and interventional vascular procedures at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary.
