Peripheral artery disease

Specialists at Ascension St. John in Oklahoma, diagnose and treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) with advanced care options.

Get advanced care for peripheral artery disease

Specialists at Ascension St. John in Oklahoma, diagnose and treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) with advanced care options.

Why choose us

When you choose Ascension St. John for your heart care, your doctor is part of a program with 21 cardiologists and cardiac surgeons known for providing personalized care for heart disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Our heart program offers advanced screenings and diagnostics from a team who cares for more hearts than any other health system in Oklahoma.

Understanding peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) can cause pain in your legs and hips, and keep you from enjoying the activities you love. PAD is caused by plaque buildup in your arteries. It can happen in any part of your body, but it is most common in your legs. The buildup can lead to blockages, and decrease blood flow to your organs. When left untreated, it can lead to health concerns such as loss of a limb.

PAD risk factors

Common risk factors for CTO include:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Family history of peripheral artery disease, heart disease or stroke
  • Smoking
  • Sedentary lifestyle

Symptoms of PAD

Common symptoms of PAD include:

  • Hair loss in the extremities
  • Leg, hip and buttocks pain
  • Muscle weakness
  • Numb toes
  • Pain while walking
  • Painful sores that won’t heal
  • Shiny skin

If you are at risk or are experiencing symptoms, talk with your doctor about diagnostic imaging for PAD.

How we diagnose PAD

Getting the care you need starts with understanding your health. Specialists at Ascension St. John use a variety of diagnostic tests to diagnose PAD.

Your care team provides blood pressure monitoring to help you better understand your heart health and reduce the risk of severe conditions like heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. Whether you're being screened for high blood pressure (hypertension) or managing an existing condition, regular monitoring can keep you healthy. Your heart specialist may recommend doctor visit checks, home blood pressure monitoring or 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

This procedure uses a combination of large magnets, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures in your body. Your doctor may order an MRI of the heart to look at the heart valves and major vessels. It can also detect coronary artery disease and how much damage it has caused. It can also assess heart problems that have been present since birth. It can find tumors and other conditions. Your doctor may order this test before other procedures such as angioplasty or stenting of the coronary arteries and heart or vascular surgery.

Your doctor may recommend this test if you have a condition that involves the blood vessels. CT angiography is a type of medical test that combines a CT scan with an injection of a special dye. This is to make pictures of blood vessels and tissues in a part of your body. The dye is injected through an IV (intravenous) line started in your arm or hand. A CT scan is a type of X-ray that uses a computer to make images of your body. The dye injected to do CT angiography is called a contrast material. This is because it highlights the blood vessels and tissues being studied.

How we treat PAD

Treatment for PAD may include:

Angioplasty and stenting is a procedure to improve the blood flow in an artery or vein. The carotid artery is a large artery running along each side of your neck. During the procedure, a thin flexible tube (catheter) is put into an artery in your groin. It's gently threaded up into the problem area in the carotid artery. The catheter has a tiny, deflated balloon at the tip. When it reaches the narrowed part of your carotid, the balloon is inflated. This opens up the narrowed area. This is called angioplasty.

A tiny mesh tube (stent) may be put into this area. It's left in place to help keep the artery open.

Your cardiologist might suggest CABG to treat blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. CABG is a surgical technique used to restore healthy blood flow to the heart, improve heart function and reduce symptoms. Our experienced cardiac surgeons perform both on-pump CABG and off-pump CABG. The procedure is chosen based on the severity of the blockage in the coronary arteries.

Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to slow the progression of PAD and help relieve symptoms. Lifestyle changes may include stopping the use of tobacco products, exercise and having a healthier diet.

Your cardiologist may recommend medications to help manage your heart condition. Mediation may be used to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol and more.

Clinical trials

Our doctors are committed to being leaders in cardiovascular research, working to help improve how we diagnose and treat heart and vascular diseases. You can talk to your cardiologist if you are interested in participating in clinical trials.

LIBREXIA-ACS
A study of milvexian in participants after a recent acute coronary syndrome

ELEGANCE
Drug-eluting registry: Real-world treatment of lesions in the peripheral vasculature

THOR
The THOR IDE study

How to get care

stethoscope

If you are at risk for PAD or have been diagnosed, talk with one of our specialists. Every appointment starts with a conversation about how you are feeling, any new symptoms or concerns. Your care team will take the time to answer all your questions — big and small.

Get a second opinion

Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension St. John Heart and Vascular Center. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized care plan.

Whether you are experiencing new symptoms or have a new diagnosis and are considering treatment options, our specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team of heart specialists.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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