aka Peripheral arterial disease
Narrowing, blockage, or spasms in a blood vessel can cause PVD. PVD may affect any blood vessel outside of the heart including the arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is where a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply
Causes/Factors
Atherosclerosis
- Smoking
- Obesity
- hypertension
- etc
Symptoms
- Pain in leg after a distance (distance shortening as disease progresses)
- Or pain in arm after use
- Pale limb with reduced arterial pressure
- Numbness
- Hair loss in affected area
- Brittle toenails
- Ulcers on feet and legs which don’t heal
- Shiny skin
Diagnostic Tests
- Reduced Ankle Brachial index
- MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram)
Management
- Low dose Aspirin to start
- Then stenting
Complications/red Flags
- Eventually develop gangrene due to Oxygen starvation and require amputation