What is peripheral vascular disease?
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or also known as
peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the narrowing
of blood vessels outside the heart.
What are the causes of peripheral vascular disease?
It is caused by the build-up of plaque in arteries,
called atherosclerosis.
Our vascular surgeons provide the full range of
vascular treatments for all peripheral vascular
diseases and conditions from blocked arteries to
aneurysms and strokes. You can rest assured that you
will be given holistic care by our dedicated team of
surgeons and nurses.
What are the symptoms of peripheral vascular
disease?
Often, people with PVD do not develop symptoms.
Symptoms that may occur include:
- Numbness or aching leg muscles especially during
physical exertion
- Weak pulses in the limbs
- Pale or bluish skin in the limbs
- Coldness or decreased in skin temperature at the
affected body part
- Poor healing of wounds on the limbs
- Hair loss on the legs
- Impotence
What are the risk factors of peripheral vascular
disease?
- Medical history and family history
- Physical examination
- Ultrasound: Is used to help your specialist see
how blood flows through your veins using sound
waves
- Arteriography
- Angiography
- Magnetic resonance angiogram: Using magnetic
resonance imaging to produce images of blood
vessels
How is peripheral vascular disease treated?
- Medications to increase blood flow, reduce
claudication (cramping in limbs caused by
obstruction of blood vessels), lower cholesterol
levels, or reduce blood clotting may be
prescribed to treat PVD
- An invasive angiogram is the insertion of a
catheter to introduce dye into the arteries to
make them visible on an X-ray
- Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: It is
done by inserting a catheter and inflating a
balloon to enlarge a narrowed space in the
artery. The specialist may insert a stent into
the affected area
- Bypass surgery or endarterectomy: This is
especially for patients with lesions are
challenging to treat with an angioplasty
What are the lifestyle changes needed to control the
risk of peripheral vascular disease?
- Regular exercise
- Proper nutrition (low fat, high fibre diet)
- Quit smoking
- Manage risk factors e.g., diabetes and high
blood pressure
- Keep your weight in check
- Take your medications as directed
- Take good care of your injuries/wounds
References
- Peripheral vascular disease. Available at
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/peripheral-vascular-disease
[Accessed on 9 May 2022]
- Peripheral vascular disease. Available at
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/peripheral-vascular-disease#:
[Accessed on 9 May 2022]
- Peripheral vascular disease: diagnosis and
treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(11):1971-6.