Treatments
Lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications, exercise and smoking cessation often are the first choices for patients with early-stage PAD. Later stages may require the below treatments:
Angioplasty
A catheter is threaded through a blood vessel to the blocked artery and a small balloon is used to reopen it. In some cases, the insertion of a stent is required to help keep the artery open.
Atherectomy
A catheter is used to reach the site of the blockage. There, a small razor or laser is deployed to remove the arterial plaque.
Thrombolysis
A catheter is used to reach the site of the blockage and delivers a drug to dissolve the blood clot. This may sometimes require an overnight infusion.
These minimally invasive treatments are less painful and offer a quicker recovery time so you can get back to your normal activities.