2024-02-04 08:08:02
Peripheral arterial disease has been associated with a considerable percentage of mortality, exceeding 68%.
By: Maria Camila Sanchez
February 04, 2024
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition deeply associated with atherosclerosis, since the accumulation of fat in the arteries can hinder or obstruct blood flow. Blood flowdecreasing irrigation to the extremities.
As indicated by Dr. Carlos Vázquez, interventional and peripheral vascular cardiologist from the second cardiovascular symposium ‘Pavia Heart and Vascular Forum‘, exclusively for the Medicine and Public Health Magazine, one of the main signs that the patient may have is pain.
“This can progress to the point where the patient develops ulcerations or openings in the skin that can become infected, cause gangrene and threaten the patient’s limb.”
How to diagnose Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Currently, “there are studies carried out both in offices and hospitals in which the simultaneous pressure of both legs is measured. This is called ‘ankle-brachial index’, with which we know whether the patient is already having a limb perfusion problem or not.”
Subsequently, and depending on the results of the study, more invasive studies, or a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, are performed to find abnormalities.
“If we find any obstruction that we think we have to revascularize, then we take it to the room and do an angiogram as if it were a catheterization, but of the legs.”
Complications that can occur if not treated in time
As Dr. Vázquez explained to MSP Magazine at the beginning of the conversation, PAD can cause the loss of a limb in patients due to inadequate Blood flow.
“If this is not attended to in time, the patient can develop ulcers that will lead to gangrene and, eventually, lead to amputation.”
Even so, to prevent this from happening, there are currently different therapeutic alternatives through which the disease process can be slowed down.
“There is medical treatment, with medications to prevent progression and to help perfusion. However, when the patient has an advanced stage, the arteries have to be opened so that the patient receives blood throughout the entire leg.”
Main associated risk factors
PAD can be prevented to the extent that some triggering factors are controlled, such as diabetes. Likewise, avoiding smoking, therefore, “the cigarette “It is the second most common cause of having peripheral vascular disease.”
Likewise, it is important to mention that although it is a disease that generally affects the extremities, it is associated with a considerable mortality rate.
“A patient who has peripheral vascular disease has a mortality of over 68% in 5 years, if he has what is called ‘chronic limb ischaemia’ and, in addition to that, these patients are also associated with having a high incidence of conditions and complications.” cardiovascular. Many of them end up dying from a cardiovascular complication in the next 3 to 5 years.”
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