Peripheral Vascular Angiography
More than 12 million people in the United States suffer from vascular disease. The most common cause of peripheral artery disease is atherosclerosis, or buildup of plaque in the arterial walls. Many of these cases are complicated by cardiac disease, hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders or kidney disease. Recent data suggests that peripheral vascular disease continues to be a prevalent yet under-diagnosed and under-treated condition.
The Peripheral Vascular Disease program at St. Paul Heart Clinic is designed to collaborate with primary care providers and podiatrists to increase awareness/detection, to optimize clinical outcomes, as well as, patient satisfaction. Peripheral vascular disease shares the same risk factors as coronary artery disease and the diseases often occur together. Our patients are now benefiting from the latest endovascular technologies. These procedures have had tremendous success returning blood flow to the lower extremities for limb salvage and non-healing wound patients.
A peripheral angiogram is a test that uses dye and special X-rays to show the inside of arteries that supply blood to your legs. A peripheral angiogram allows the interventional cardiologist to determine if narrowing or blockage exists, the location and to what extent.
Not unlike a coronary angiogram to view the coronary artery anatomy, a peripheral angiogram procedure involves threading a long, thin flexible tube (catheter) into the arteries of the leg. Dye is injected through the catheter and special X-rays are taken while the dye is flowing through the arteries. You’re awake during the procedure. Mild sedation may be given.
At St. Paul Heart Clinic, peripheral angiography is performed by the cardiologists from the Peripheral Vascular Disease program including:
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