Related to: Foot and leg ulcer care, venous disease care, aortic disease care
We are San Antonio’s experts in caring for patients with peripheral artery disease. Every day, we are improving our patient’s lives and reducing their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Peripheral vascular disease is a term used to describe a group of cardiovascular diseases affecting the arteries, veins, and aorta. Peripheral vascular disease can occur at any age, but it often affects older adults and people with diabetes. The disease reduces circulation through the arteries leading to the brain, legs, arms, brain, kidneys and/or stomach. This increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, limb amputation and coronary heart disease. It is a common, but serious condition that our cardiologists are experts in managing with vascular disease care.
We have extensive training and experience treating patients with all types of peripheral vascular disease. It is our goal to not only reduce symptoms but to effectively treat the disease and reduce our patient’s risk of serious complications.
We provide peripheral angiography testing which uses x-rays to help the physician find narrowed or blocked areas in one or more of your arteries. A long, thin tube (catheter) is guided into the arteries and a dye, visible by x-rays, is injected into the bloodstream. Any areas of narrowed or blocked arteries will be seen on a video screen and recorded.
Make an appointment
Please call 210-450-4888 for more information or to make an appointment.
Treatment
Some of the treatments we provide include:
Medication for reducing the risk of blood clots and other complications, treating high cholesterol and blood pressure, and reducing pain and other symptoms.
Atherectomy (rotational and directional) is a procedure used to cut away the blockage (plaque) responsible for narrowing in the artery. Atherectomy techniques include:
- Directional atherectomy uses a long, thin tube (catheter) with a sharp blade on the end to remove plaque from the artery. The blade shaves the plaque and stores it in a collection chamber. The plaque is removed from the artery when the device is removed.
- Rotational atherectomy uses a special long, thin tube (catheter) with a diamond-coated tip. The tip spins at a high speed and grinds away the plaque on the artery walls. The small particles are washed safely away in your bloodstream and filtered out by your liver and spleen.
Angioplasty increases the area inside the artery and improves blood flow. A catheter with a balloon tip is inserted in the artery. The balloon compresses the built up plaque and opens the artery.
Artery stenting to ensure the artery remains open after an angioplasty procedure. The stent is a small, wire tube placed inside the artery as a type of scaffold to keep the artery open.