Peripheral Arterial Disease

Download and print the patient leaflet here

What is peripheral arterial disease?

Your arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Your peripheral arteries carry blood away from the heart to your arms and legs. The peripheral arteries in your legs are extensions of the largest artery in your body, the aorta. The aorta travels down through your abdominal region and branches off into the iliac arteries of each leg. The iliac arteries further divide into smaller arteries and deliver blood down your legs to your toes.

Healthy peripheral arteries are smooth and unobstructed, allowing blood to flow freely to the legs and provide oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients that your legs need. Typically with age, the peripheral arteries build up plaque, a sticky substance made up mostly of fat and cholesterol. Plaque narrows the passageway within the arteries and causes them to become stiff. Peripheral arterial disease results when the peripheral arteries become too narrow or obstructed and limit the blood flow to the legs. If left untreated, peripheral arterial disease can cause pain or aching in the legs, difficulty with walking, resting pain in the footat night in bed, non-healing sores or infections in the toes or feet, and can lead to limb loss in its most severe form. In addition, it can be associated with other serious arterial conditions leading to heart attacks and stroke.

Causes and Risk factors

  • Age

  • Gender-males are more prone to the condition than females

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

  • Diabetes

  • Smoking

  • High cholesterol

  • Obesity

  • Lack of exercise

  • Family history of vascular problems

Reducing Risk Factors

  • Stop Smoking

  • Low Fat Diet

  • Control High Blood Pressure

  • Care for your Feet

  • Exercise Daily

Symptoms

There may be no symptoms in the early stages of peripheral arterial disease. Developing symptoms may include discomfort or pain in your legs when walking but no pain when you rest.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of vascular disease begins with a careful medical history, including risk factors and physical exam, followed by non invasive tesTing.

Non-Invasive Testing: Non-invasive testing uses state of the art ultrasound technology to evaluate flow, perfusion and pressures within the vessels at rest and with exercise. These procedures are painless (no needles are involved) and can help to determine if blood vessel disease is present, the location, and severity. Exclusively from the results of these tests, the surgeon will determine the need for more invasive testing or procedures to treat vascular disease.

 

Videos of peripheral Procedures

You can browse some of the videos of procedures that have been carried out by Mr. Sultan at the link below:

PVD Procedures

Art Assist Programme

References

  1. Sultan S Non-operative active management of critical limb ischaemia:initial experience using a sequential compression biomechanical device for limb salvage. Vascular 2008 16(3):130-9

  2. Sultan et al. A prospective feasibility study of duplex ultrasound arterial mapping, digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance angiography in the management of critical limb ischaemia by endovascular revascularisation Ann Vasc Surg 2007 21(4)

  3. Scheinert D, Peeters P, Bosiers M, O'Sullivan G, Sultan S, Gershony G. Results of the multicenter first-in-man study of a novel scoring balloon catheter for the treatment of infra-popliteal peripheral arterial disease. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2007 Dec 1;70(7):1034-9. PMID: 18044759

  4. Sultan S, Hynes N. Recent trends in the management of peripheral vascular disease in high risk patients. Heart Wise. 2007: 10(2);21-25.

  5. Hynes N, Sultan S. Reinforced long saphenous vein bypass graft for infrainguinal reconstruction procedures: case series and literature review. Vascular. 2006 Mar-Apr;14(2):113-8. PMID: 16956481

  6. O'Sullivan CJ, Hynes N, Sultan S. Haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) in Non-diabetic and Diabetic Vascular Patients. Is HbA1C an Independent Risk Factor and Predictor of Adverse Outcome? Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2006 Aug;32(2):188-97.;PMID: 16580235

  7. Hynes N, Sultan S. The influence of subintimal angioplasty on level of amputation and limb salvage rates in lower limb critical ischaemia: a 15-year experience. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2005 Sep;30(3):291-9. PMID: 15939635

  8. Hynes N, Sultan S. Subintimal angioplasty as a primary modality in the management of critical limb ischemia: comparison to bypass grafting for aortoiliac and femoropopliteal occlusive disease. J Endovasc Ther 2004 Aug;11(4):460-71. PMID: 15298498

Underdiagnosed, Undertreated and a Major Killer.

Peripheral vascular disease is a progressive condition that is caused by atherosclerosis and subsequent narrowing of the peripheral arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs, neck, stomach or kidneys. The clinical presentation depends on the location and degree of obstruction in the arteries affected, but the most common presentation is lower limb disease. Symptoms range from pain or cramp in the leg when walking to pain at rest.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is caused when fatty deposits (called plaques) build up inside the artery walls. As these deposits build up, they begin to restrict the flow of blood through the peripheral blood vessels. As the disease progresses the atherosclerotic plaques can rupture resulting in the formation of a thrombus and arterial occlusion. Atherosclerotic plaque, thrombosis, and vasoconstriction of the arteries all lead to decreased blood flow in the periphery. In the peripheral or non-heart vessels, this is most likely to occur in the femoral and popliteal arteries (legs), the subclavian arteries (arms), the iliac arteries (lower abdomen leading to the legs), the carotid arteries (in the neck leading to the brain) and renal arteries (kidneys).

Disease symptoms

When organs and muscles receive an insufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood, they become starved (ischaemic) and pain results. This ischaemia leads to painful symptoms that can be worsened as the demand for oxygen increases in response to activity such as walking.

If the blockage occurs in the arteries supplying the legs, the resulting symptom is cramping pain in the hips, thighs or calf muscles during activity. If this pain is relieved with rest, it is called "intermittent claudication." Other symptoms of PVD in the lower limbs include:

 

  • Coldness of the leg and foot
  • Paleness of the leg or foot if elevated; redness on lowering
  • Numbness or tingling in the leg, foot or toes
  • Dry, shiny skin with poor toenail or hair growth
  • Rash, marks or ulcers
  • Sores that do not heal

 

Unfortunately, many people with these symptoms of PVD, especially pain on walking, assume that these are just part of getting older and do not seek medical attention until they become severely debilitated.

In advanced stages of the disease, severe ischaemia can result in cell death and tissue destruction. Progression of limb pain and destruction of tissue eventually leads to critical limb ischaemia (CLI) frequently requiring amputation and increasing physical impairment and mortality rates. People with PVD often have atherosclerosis in the heart and brain. Because of this association, they have a higher risk of death from heart disease, aortic aneurysms and stroke. PVD is also a marker for diabetes, hypertension and other conditions.

Diagnosis

Techniques used to diagnose PVD include a medical history, physical examination, doppler ultrasound, computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance arteriography (MRA).

Probably the most useful, although underutilized, diagnostic tool for detecting peripheral arterial disease in the outpatient setting is the Ankle Brachial Index or ABI test. This simple, painless test compares the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to help accurately measure the degree of blood flow in the lower extremities.

Underdiagnosed and undertreated

In contrast to coronary and cerebral artery disease, PVD is vastly underdiagnosed despite its abysmal mortality rates. Research suggests that PVD, previously estimated to affect 27 million people in Europe and North America, may be more common than previously thought.1 However, it is estimated that less than 30% of PVD patients are diagnosed, mainly due to the fact that over 50% are asymptomatic - leg pain may be present in only 10% of patients.1 Lack of awareness and appreciation of PVD is a major contributing factor to the underdiagnosis of this serious disease.

A major killer

With 5 and 10-year rates of 30% and 50% respectively, mortality due to PVD is greater than that caused by myocardial infarction and stroke.2 PVD is more common in people over 50 years and in the over 60s, the frequency of PVD is as high as 25%.3

Studies have shown a nearly 6-fold increase in relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease in patients with large-vessel PVD (average age 66 years) compared with those without.4

The elevated risk of death from all causes in patients with established PVD versus normal subjects was due mostly to increased rates of death from cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Rates of death from other causes were not significantly elevated in PVD patients. There is a similar correlation between cerebrovascular disease and PVD. The incidence of ischemic stroke has been reported to be as high as 42% in patients with PVD.5 PVD patients appear to have a poorer prognosis following a stroke than do those without PVD following a stroke.

Treatment options

A number of treatment options are available today:

Lifestyle

In some cases, lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking and exercising regularly will alleviate symptoms and prevent further progression of the disease. Like many patients with coronary artery disease caused by atherosclerosis, PVD patients often have elevated cholesterol levels that contribute to the disease. A low fat diet and other cholesterol-lowering strategies are often part of a treatment plan.

Medication

For many patients, lifestyle changes combined with drug treatment can control the symptoms of PVD. Drugs include: antiplatelet agents; medicines to improve walking distance (cilostazol and pentoxifylline); cholesterol-lowering agents.

Intervention

Surgical intervention

Bypass surgery has been the gold standard interventional therapy for PVD, especially for occluded femoropopliteal arteries. Invasive surgery carries a relatively high risk of mortality and morbidity as well as being stressful for the patient and contra-indicated in the very elderly.

Angioplasty and stenting

Less invasive treatment options, such as angioplasty and stent implantation, are increasingly used in place of invasive surgery. These procedures are less stressful for the patient than vascular surgery and are associated with a considerably reduced mortality. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis or require no more than an overnight hospital stay, allowing patients to return to their normal activities. However, in some patients surgery may still be the best option.

Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure that can be used to widen narrowed or blocked arteries. A catheter with a deflated balloon on its tip is passed into the narrowed artery segment. Then the balloon is inflated to open the blood vessel. The blood vessel can then be held open with a stent, a tiny cylindrical, wire mesh tube, that expands to keep the diseased artery open and restore blood flow. The stent remains in the artery as a permanent implant. This procedure is performed in a hospital suite equipped with x-ray instruments that enable the doctor to see the patient's arteries during the procedure. Following a stent procedure, many patients can go home on the same day.

Taking ACTION - The PVD awareness initiative

ACTION is a programme aimed at increasing the awareness and detection of peripheral vascular disease in clinical practice, as well as increasing the awareness of this condition amongst the general public. PVD is a progressive disease which, without intervention, carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. However, general physicians' and patients' awareness of the disease and its serious consequences is low compared with other life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction, stroke and cancer. Moreover, as the older cohort expands with an ageing population, primary care providers will see an increasing number of patients at risk from the consequences of PVD.

PVD issues on awareness

General practitioners may overlook artery disease in the limbs because it is often asymptomatic and patients do not self-refer with "aching legs". It is, therefore, underdiagnosed and subsequently undertreated, even though it should be regarded as a severe disease leading to significant death and disability from stroke and myocardial infarction. Screening of at-risk patients is rare and could be improved; often patients are referred to the specialist too late or inappropriately. Accurate diagnosis of PVD could provide an early indication of the need for intervention and help prevent future morbidity and mortality. 6,7

Notes for editors

References for editors

1. Hirsch AT et al. Peripheral arterial disease detection, awareness, and treatment in primary care. JAMA. 2001;286:1317-1324
2. Sharafuddin M, Anguelov Z, Currents: Fall, 2001, Volume 2, Number 4.
3. Norman et al. MJA 2004.
4. Criqui MH et al. Mortality over a period of 10 years in patients with peripheral arterial disease. N Engl J Med. 1992;326:381-386.
5. Dawson DL, et al: Peripheral Arterial Disease: Medical care and prevention of complications. Prev Cardiol 2002;5:119-130.
6. Stoyioglou A and Jaff MR. Medical treatment of peripheral arterial disease: A comprehensive review. JVIR. 2004; 15:1197-1207.
7. Criqui MH. Peripheral arterial disease - epidemiological aspects. Vasc Med. 2001;6(3 Suppl):3-7.