Peripheral Arterial Disease, also known as Peripheral Vascular Disease is a condition affecting the arterial tree of the body, including abdominal, leg, arm and neck arteries. Atherosclerosis, of a similar nature to that found in the heart, causes narrowing or occlusion of arteries. This can result in a wide range of symptoms, from nothing at all to pain in the calves when walking, to pain at rest and potentially gangrene of the toes. When it occurs in the neck arteries it can cause a stroke.
There are several treatment options for this disease process, which can be discussed at the time of consultation. These range from taking tablets to minimise progression of the disease, to endovascular solutions including angioplasty and stenting (keyhole surgery), and also open surgery.
