PATIENT RESOURCES
Learn more about pad, dvt, diagnosis, and
treatment options
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
A peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a blockage or narrowing of an artery in the legs usually due to atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up in the walls of arteries. This can result in decreased blood flow. The reduced blood flow can then cause parts of the body to not receive enough blood. This is known as ischemia, which is when there is insufficient oxygen levels tissues. When an artery is suddenly or completely blocked, the tissues it supplies may die from the lack of oxygen.
The slowing of blood flow and blockage of the artery can lead to the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in the narrowed area. The absence of blood flow may cause numbness, coldness, severe pain and a bluish appearance in the affected leg. The removal of thrombus from the narrowing of an artery is what iCHOR specializes in. Our thrombectomy system is designed to remove the clot so that the underlying lesion (plaque) can be addressed with a different treatment such as angioplasty.
There are several risk factors that could increase your chance of developing peripheral arterial disease. They include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- > 60 years old
- Obesity
- Family history of PAD
Many people with PAD do not have any symptoms. The most common symptoms are pain, discomfort, or cramping, known as claudication. The pain typically occurs in the calf while doing activities like walking or going up stairs. Other PAD symptoms may include:
- Leg weakness or numbness
- Cold foot or lower leg
- Color change of skin on the legs
- Sores on lower leg or toes that won’t heal
- Burning pain while resting
There are several non-invasive methods that can be utilized to help diagnose PAD. The first is a physical exam using the ankle-brachial index (ABI) that compares the blood pressure in the lower legs to the blood pressure in the arms. If your ABI is below a certain level, it could indicate PAD and your doctor may perform additional tests:
Noninvasive:
- Duplex Ultrasound
- Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
- Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography
Invasive:
- Angiography
Aside from lifestyle changes, treatment for PAD may involve a procedure that removes or compresses plaque on the artery wall to open the narrowing in the artery and restore blood flow. These include:
- Bypass surgery
- Angioplasty
- Stent
- Atherectomy
- Endarterectomy
Sometimes there may also be a blood clot at the site of narrowing in the artery. In this case, a procedure is first performed to remove the blood clot before additional interventions. A common clot removal procedure is thrombectomy. Devices like iCHOR’s mechanical thrombectomy system are used to break up and physically remove the clot to help restore blood flow.
PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one of the veins in the deep system, usually occurring in the lower extremities. These clots may partially or completely block blood flow through the vein, causing blood to pool, often causing pain and swelling. The primary danger of a DVT is that part of the clot (referred to as an embolus) can break free and travel through the blood stream to blood vessels in the lungs. This is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE) which can be life threatening if the clot prevents blood from reaching the lungs.
There can be several complications associated with DVT, as approximately one-third to one-half of people who have a DVT will experience damage to the vein and its valves. This is called post-thrombotic symptom (PTS) and can cause long-term leg pain, swelling, and leg ulcers.
A majority of DVTs occur in hospitals due to an illness or following surgery. Not moving for long periods of time makes it easier for blood to pool in the legs. Other common risk factors include:
- Sitting for long periods of time
- Crossed legs for an extended period
- Injury to a vein caused by injury or surgery
- Chronic medical illnesses such as cancer
- Increased estrogen
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
Some people with a DVT do not have symptoms or they may be very mild. Common symptoms associated with DVT in the lower extremities include:
- Swelling of the leg
- Pain and/or tenderness
- Red or darkened skin
- Warm skin
If an embolus breaks apart and causes a pulmonary embolism, symptoms include:Â difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing up blood, and heart palpitations.
There are several methods for diagnosing a DVT, most of which are non-invasive:
- Duplex Ultrasound
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- D-dimer blood test
If additional information is needed for diagnosis, a venography (invasive procedure) may be performed, which involves injecting a dye into the affected leg to look for blood clots.
Depending on the severity and health of the patient, the first-line treatment is typically blood thinners such as heparin and warfarin to treat the clot.Â
Compression stockings are also frequently used to help move blood and return it to the heart. If these treatments do not work, there are several procedures that can be performed to treat the clot.
- Stent
- IVC Filter
- Surgery
- Thrombolysis
- Thrombectomy
iCHOR’s mechanical thrombectomy system can be used to help physically remove the clot and restore blood flow.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS
