Patients with coronary artery disease are also likely to have disease to the arteries that supply the brain, internal organs and the limbs. Disease to these non-coronary arteries is known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and its incidence, like coronary disease, increases with age. The clinical manifestations depend on the specific organs involved and on the extent of the blockage. Involvement of the arteries leading to the brain could lead to either stoke or a mini-stroke, to that of the limbs to claudications on effort, to the renal arteries could lead to high blood pressure and kidney failure and to the arteries of the internal organs to malfunction of these organs.

At the Krannert Institute of Cardiology, we specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD using state of the art techniques and offer consultative services to all aspects of this disease. Non-invasive tests are generally performed on the arteries to the organ involved (e.g. legs, neck, arms, renal arteries) to evaluate involvement and extent of the disease. These tests include the assessment of different aspects of blood pressure measurements in the limbs, ultrasound studies to assess blood flow and structure, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomographic angiography with the use of contrast for clearer morphologic evaluation of the blockages. Depending on the outcome of these non-invasive testing, invasive angiography might need to be performed in the catheterization laboratory through a non-surgical same day procedure.

We treat the majority of PAD using a non-surgical procedure called percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), in which a Krannert Institute Cardiovascular specialist inflates a tiny balloon inside the vessel, compressing the plaque causing the blockage against the vessel wall. This procedure is performed entirely within the artery through a small puncture in the skin after a local anesthetic is given. Depending on the artery involved and the outcome of the PTA, a stent (metal mesh) might need to be implanted through the skin puncture to the affected arterial segment to optimize the treatment outcome. Alternatively, through the skin puncture, our specialists might resort in some circumstances to other modalities of treatment such as atherectomy (removal of the plaque causing the blockage using special devices) or excimer laser to open severely blocked arteries.

Patients with coronary disease who exhibit any symptom of PAD or in whom their physician detects signs suggestive of it, should be promptly investigated. For the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of PAD by a Krannert Institute Cardiovascular specialist, please contact us at (317) 962-0500.