What is it?

Peripheral vascular intervention is a minimally invasive procedure commonly used to treat peripheral artery disease. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a circulatory problem in which blood flow to your limbs is reduced due to the narrowing of your arteries.  Typically, our physicians will fix the narrowing using interventions such as angioplasty and/or atherectomy. 

Peripheral vascular intervention can be more specifically categorized by which artery is restricting blood flow and being revascularized. Examples being, SFA revascularization, iliac stenting, PT/AT revascularization, etc.

Why would you need it?

The goal of peripheral vascular intervention is to restore the blood flow to your lower extremities. With the improvement of blood flow, the patient should experience improvement of pain and/or numbness, better healing of sores and/or wounds that would not heal previously, and possibly prevent amputation.   

After the Procedure

Following the procedure, you will be taken to a recovery area where your cardiac status and procedure site will be monitored for 2-4 hours.

Going Home

You will be able to go home the same day of the procedure, although you will not be able to drive yourself for the first 24 hours after.  You will need to arrange in advance for someone to drive you home.

You must refrain from any activity that requires heavy lifting, straining, or vigorous leg activity for at least 5 days because it may cause bleeding. If bleeding does occur, apply heavy continuous pressure and call 911 immediately.  You must also refrain from drinking alcohol or smoking for the first 24 hours.

The dressing over the puncture site may be removed 24 hours after the procedure.  At this time, the patient may shower and gently clean site. After shower the site may be patted dry and left open to air. Ointments, bandages, or creams are NOT necessary.

It is normal to experience some discomfort and discoloration at the puncture site.  There may also be a small knot the size of a pea, this is also expected.  You may take an over the counter pain relief medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).

If at any point there is redness accompanied with drainage, pain, swelling, fever or chills, or the site is hot to the touch, these may be signs of an infection and must be reported to the doctor IMMEDIATELY.

How long does the test last?

This procedure can take approximately 1-3 hours.  Afterwards you can expect to be in recovery for 2-4 hours.