Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a vascular condition that occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs. PAD is usually a result of a buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis, and can be associated with diabetes, obesity, and a history of smoking.
If your lower legs and feet are not getting enough blood flow, it can cause non-healing foot sores, resting leg pain while lying down at night, and pain in the calves, thighs, or buttocks that can make it difficult to walk, sometimes even shorter distances. Left untreated, these blockages can progress and lead to neuropathy, non-healing foot wounds, toe and limb loss, or even worse.
Symptoms of PAD
Calf, thigh, or buttock pain when walking that is relieved with rest
Leg cramps while lying down
Non-healing foot or lower leg wounds
Numbness in the feet
Sparse hair growth or loss of hair on the legs and feet
One foot is colder than the other
Risk Factors for PAD
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Renal disease
- A history of smoking
- High cholesterol
- Higher prevalence in adults over 65
If you have any of these risk factors, it is recommended that you screen for PAD every 5 years and more often with multiple factors.
Diagnosing PAD
In addition to a detailed health history and medication review, all Southern VIPTM patients with symptoms and risk factors for PAD are carefully screened using handheld Doppler ultrasound and blood pressure equipment. A toe brachial pressure index (TBI) test compares a patient’s systolic blood pressure in the toe vs their blood pressure in the arm to determine if blood flow is adequately making it to the feet. Most patients will also undergo an arterial ultrasound to determine the location and severity of any blockages. In most cases, all testing can be completed on the same day as part of the initial exam.
Treatment Options
Conservative Treatment for PAD
PAD is a chronic disease and cannot be cured, but it can be managed. Depending on the advanced progression of the arterial blockage, your NP may suggest you start by modifying your diet and exercise routine. Many find that losing weight and improving health habits can be enough to improve blood flow in the body. If these options have already been explored or the condition is more advanced, your NP may recommend a more advanced treatment option, including Southern VIP Foot RescueTM.
Leg & Foot Revascularization (Southern VIP Foot Rescue)
Southern VIP Foot RescueTM is a minimally-invasive treatment for PAD performed by Dr. Thomas Hodgkiss, or one of his specially trained Interventional Radiologists* (IR), at one of our Southern VIP outpatient procedure facilities in Memphis, TN, Southaven, TN, Union City TN, and Fulton, KY. This advanced procedure is designed to restore blood flow and alleviate symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), providing patients with a safe and effective alternative to more invasive surgical options.
*An interventional radiologist is a board-certified physician (MD) who has completed 6-7 years of additional training in using X-ray imaging guidance and specializes in treating a wide range of conditions, including PAD, using this high-tech equipment.
Balloons and Stents
Sometimes when the arteries are particularly clogged or weakened, our Southern VIP doctors will use a tiny balloon to help widen it. This procedure is called angioplasty. Angioplasty is often combined with the placement of a small wire mesh tube called a stent. The stent helps keep the artery open, decreasing its chance of narrowing again. Many stents are also coated with medication (drug-eluting stents) and can assist in treating PAD in the long term.
After a Southern VIP Foot Rescue Procedure
After an hour of observation, you will be released to go home with a trusted driver. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids following the procedure and avoid strenuous activity and lifting for the first 48-72 hours. Most patients begin to feel better in a couple of days and can return to work and regular activity within a week. Your Southern VIP doctor or NP will follow up with you via phone following the procedure and will likely have you return to the clinic for a follow-up check-up in 1-2 weeks.
Common side effects of treatment include soreness, swelling, or mild bleeding at the wire insertion site. Less common but more serious side effects might include significant bleeding, fever, leg or foot discoloration or temperature change, significant weakness, chest pain, or shortness of breath. These are serious and require immediate medical attention.
Case Studies and Articles
Southern VIP Foot Rescue Treatment
Treating leg pain in office with techniques a traditional pain clinic does not offer!
Thomas Hodgkiss, MD, is a board-certified interventional radiologist at Southern Pain and Regenerative Medicine in Memphis and Union City, Tennessee.
A native of Tennessee, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and received his medical degree at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Afterward, he completed a fellowship program in interventional radiology at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.
John Scallions hails from the Mississippi Delta and has always had a passion to improve the health of his community. He has been in the healthcare field for over 30 years with most of that time being focused on vascular health. He received his diploma in nursing from Baptist School of Nursing and then graduated from Union University with his Master of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner degree.
Peripheral Artery Disease Q&A
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