​Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease Overview

Peripheral arterial (or artery) disease (PAD) is a narrowing of the blood vessels outside the heart and brain — most commonly in the arteries of the:

• Arms
• Legs
• Neck
• Abdomen

PAD is usually caused by a gradual build-up of plaque within the arteries (atherosclerosis). As the arteries become narrowed, essential blood flow to the limbs and organs is reduced.

PAD affects about 8 million people in the United States.

Complications of PAD

• Reduced blood flow to the affected limbs and organs will damage their function.
• PAD in the legs and feet causes difficulty walking.
• In its most severe forms, PAD can cause painful foot ulcers, infections, and even gangrene.
• People with PAD are also at high risk for heart attack and stroke.

About the Division of Vascular Surgery at UPMC

The Division of Vascular Surgery treats PAD and a full range of vascular-related diseases and conditions.

What distinguishes our program?

• Our vascular surgeons — specialists in minimally invasive therapies for PAD, which they helped pioneer for the entire vascular system.
• Our experience — our experts  perform hundreds of procedures every year. UPMC also is a major referral center for patients with complicated conditions or who need additional operations.
• Our coordinated approach — our team of endovascular and vascular surgeons works closely with other specialists to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to treatment.

Diagnosing Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral arterial (or artery) disease (PAD) can develop over a lifetime with varying symptoms.

Peripheral artery disease symptoms

Early PAD symptoms include:

• Leg discomfort
• Leg pain or cramping that develops with walking and is relieved at rest
• Pain in the ball of the foot or toes, while at rest, as PAD progresses

The most severe forms of PAD can cause:

• Painful foot ulcers
• Blue or black discoloration of the toes
• Infections
• Gangrene

Left untreated, the condition may lead to amputation.

Testing for peripheral artery disease

In most cases, your doctor can diagnose PAD through a physical exam but can't always measure its severity, especially if you have another condition such as diabetes.

To measure the severity of PAD, your doctor will order noninvasive tests such as:

• A Doppler ultrasound scan
• An ankle-brachial index —  to measure blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm, the standard measure used to gauge the severity of PAD

In some cases, your vascular surgeon may decide to obtain more information through additional tests, including:

• A CT scans
• An MRI scans
• Cardiac catheterization (also called a coronary angiogram)

Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to expect your test results and will call you when they're available.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment

The UPMC Division of Vascular Surgery offers a full range of treatment options for perpheral arterial (or artery) disease (PAD). We will work with you to determine which treatment option is right for you.

Exploring new PAD treatments

UPMC's vascular surgeons have participated in several large research studies of stenting and in even more cutting-edge research to treat PAD, including:

• Stem cell research
• The development of new balloons and devices

Learn more about heart and vascular treatments at UPMC.