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Peripheral Angioplasty (Archive: 2010 and Earlier)
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Archived Postings on This Page from 2010 and Earlier (94): • Brothers
from Canada -- blockages may be able to be opened with balloons
-- a new stent from Cook, called Zilver, has also
shown good results in keeping blockages open in the legs. This all
depends on where the blockages are. Have you consulted an interventional
radiologist
or cardiologist? Or a vascular surgeon who may bo both open surgical
procedures AND minimally invasive balloon procedures. • my brother has an infected toe and has
lost a lot of feeling in both feet. He has blockages in his leg, what
can be
done for him? • DBO in Arizona -- Did the doctor say they
had unblocked everything? Normally rest pain should disappear pretty soon,
but
in some cases, it takes a while -- nerves have a way of "remembering" pain.
Have you returned to the interventionalist who placed the stent? You
should and
should
discuss
these
issues with him/her. Let
us know the result. • In early October 2010 I was diagnosed PAD after
experiencing leg pain in calf and strong pain in left foot. A stent was
put into left leg to clear blockage but my feet still hurt badly one week
after insertion of stent. When can I expect the pain in my foot to decrease
and no longer affect my quality of life? • Leslie from Nevada -- your mom's case is complex
-- basically it sounds like angioplasty is being used to correct a problem
that occurred during a surgical error. We cannot give medical
advice but, if you have questions, you might want to get a second opinion.
There
are three specialties that do "endovascular" peripheral procedures:
vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists and interventional cardiologists. • My mom is 44 years old and initially she went
in for a hysterectomy but during the surgery they cut into her iliac
artery, they clamped the artery for about 45 mins to stop the severe blood
loss
and put a dacron patch. That night she had ischemia below her knee and
into her foot and she had a fem-fem bypass. A month later doctors told
us she
had a narrowing of the right femoral artery right below the bypass site
and now needs an angioplasty to open up the artery and restore proper
blood flow. She has never suffered from PAD or any vascular disease whatsoever.
As a result from the arterial injury she has severe neuropathy in her
right
foot. I would like to know if having an angioplasty will relieve all
her symptoms. The failure rate, and whether it's better to enter the angioplasty
catheter through the affected right artery or go in through the healthy
left artery through the bypass tube and into the narrowed region. The
vascular
surgeon said that he will try the latter. That sounds more difficult
to me and wouldn't there be the possibility of creating damage (thrombus)
in the good left femoral artery? • Patartsy in Virginia -- this may be a side effect
of some medication (although probably not Plavix) but it also may be a
sign of a vascular problem elsewhere. Sometimes peripheral artery disease
(PAD) may mask a problem in the coronary circulation. When the PAD is "fixed" the
coronary disease may show up. Have you had any heart tests? You might want
to consult a cardiologist as well as your vascular surgeon. • I had a 100% blockage in both my legs according
to my vascular surgeon. I had stents put in. In addition he placed me on
Plavix. 2 weeks later my legs feel great but my upper body (chest area)
is very weak. I feel like someone beat on me in the chest area. I cannot
stand for long periods or walk very far because I feel like I may faint.
Is the normal??? • Chris from Kansas City -- you had responded to
our Forum Topic about complications from closure devices and we recategorized
you to this more appropriate topic. Remember that patients who write
into our Forum tend to be patients who have had complications or problems.
These
are statistically a small minority; hundreds of thousands of these procedures
are done every year and the complication rates from the access site are
about 3-6%. • I have impeding angiography and angioplasty on
friday. I'm 43 years old and have complete blockage in right leg and
some in left so its bilateral. vascular surgeon says its no big deal and
ill
be home in a day and perfectly healthy in ten days. reading all these
posts has made me feel very uncomfortable about this procedure. is it really
this bad?? • 59 yrs old and active. I have PAD, both legs
(major heart attack 2001). November 2010 - 21 cm stent left thigh. One
month of
pain free walking . Then pain left calf muscle and foot . March 2011
new op. Stent re-opened and extra 8cm added. 3 months pain free walking
.Now pain in calf and foot, as bad as ever. In 3 weeks I have a duplex
test to assess stent. Any advice? • Northernexposure -- yours is a complex situation
and it sounds like you should consult with
both
an
interventional radiologist and a vascular surgeon regarding the best
route, if you haven't already. Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease:
when found
in the legs, iliacs, etc. it's called
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD); in the heart arteries, it's called
Coronary Artery Disease, in the neck arteries, it's called Carotid
Artery Disease -- but it's all the same process, just occuring in different
parts of the circulation. Lifestyle changes (diet, smoking cessation,
exercise,
etc.) as well as adherence to medical therapy can help a lot -- but
try to find a doctor who will listen to your issues and work with you. • Once again I am posting to ask questions on peripheral
artery disease. I have stents in the aorta to stomach and in the femur
or iliac arteries.The stents have continued to close off and I have had
surgery four times and a huge blood clot removed from in between the
stomach and iliac arteries. I want to know if the bypass surgery for this
is better
than all this stenting that only lasts for me for maybe a year. My arteries
were almost 100 percent closed off in the iliac's and they did not find
the problem with the aorta until they checked my heart. I need some answers
and would appreciate anyone that could share with
me in this cross to bear. • Wendy in Ireland -- leg pain combined with low
peripheral pulse in leg might be a signal that your husband has developed
peripheral artery disease or PAD (but maybe not) -- did the doctors do
an X-ray or angiogram?
You should discuss his situation with an
interventional radiologist or vascular surgeon and get a diagnostic finding.
There are medications and procedures to treat PAD. As for flying, long
airplace trips have been shown to
possibly increase circulatory problems in the legs, mainly because of the
need to
sit in
one position
for a long
time. If you do fly, certainly make sure your husband gets up and walks
around during the flight. • My husband is 49 and has been having pain in
his hip and leg for a while. he went to doctor today and they had difficulty
finding a pulse in his leg. Can you tell me what it might be. we are
due to go on holiday in two weeks and he
is a bit frightened to fly. • John M in San Diego -- quoting success rates is
tough because so much depends on the unique clinical situation of each
individual patient. Treatment of peripheral artery disease in the leg oddly
enough can be more challenging than opening a blockage in the heart. The
two specialists you should talk to are an interventional radiologist or
cardiologist AND a vascular surgeon. You should be able to find very expert
practitioners in an area like San Diego -- Scripps, UCSD and other major
hospitals all have very experienced physicians. Ask them how many of these
they do, what their success rates are, etc. • My mother had an angioplasty in her leg about
6 months ago. She says the procedure did absolutely nothing. Her doctor
recommended her having the same
procedure again and stated the chance of success is about 50%, however my mother
is suspicious of this prediction since he denied ever saying the success rate
for the original procedure was 80%. Can anyone tell me what the success rate
is for an angioplasty procedure on the leg? Also, does anyone know how
to find the
leading specialists in this country who perform this procedure? Thanks for
your help. • I was told I have 40% circulation in my left
leg and 50% in my right leg. The surgeon is having me take aspirin and
last week I had a sonogram. I have been waiting for an entire week for
the results. Does it always take this long
to hear back? • Nick in Virgina -- reopening a closed stent with
a balloon is one way to deal with this situation -- unfortunately, blood
flow in the leg arteries, especially if it is compromised, can be sluggish and
this may result in more risk of blockage. Hopefully, there won't be another
hematoma at the access site. As for Plavix, you should discuss this with
the physician doing the procedure, but he/she would probably want you to
stay on it in order to remain anti-coagulated. Good luck. • I had written earlier concerning a hematoma and continued pain following
a leg stent. After an ultrasound this week, they discovered the stent is completely
blocked and they want to go back in and break it up. What might be the probability
of another hematoma (the earlier one is still there) and successfully clearing
the blockage? Shouldn't I get off the Plavix if I'm having another procedure?
This has all been a nightmare. The first hematoma was almost unbearable. • I've had a graft done on my right leg (thigh)
and a stent in my left leg, also a balloon done in both legs. Graft was
done a couple years ago the stent done last year anyway now I have worse
pain in my legs than before, what's up
with that? • LJ -- Perhaps your doctors means "covered
stents" -- these are used for iliac and other vessels (non-coronary).
The covering, sometimes
made
of microporous PTFE, keeps the metal stent struts from making direct contact
with the vessel wall -- which may reduce restenosis. • I HAVE "PAD" AND HAD A STINT [Stent] PROCEDURE
IN THE ILLIAC ARTERY 4/23/09 AND WAS JUST TOLD THE BLOCKAGE IS BACK AND
THE STENT NEEDS TO BE "COVERED" WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN • Nick B -- if the hematoma seems to be getting
bigger, then call your cardiologist/radiologist to make sure there's
no bleeding complication. Hematomas are a known complication of any interventional
procedure, heart or leg, when done from the femoral/groin artery -- but
it may not be major and, if so, should resolve itself. As for the
cramps,
that could be from a number of things, but again to make sure that there
is blood flow, you should get in touch with the interventionalist who
did
your procedure to have a follow-up. Let us know how it goes. • Had an angioplasty with leg stent done 10 days
ago. Had good collateral arteries but lower femoral was completely blocked
and had cramps in calf. Now have an enormous and painful hematoma but
more concerning is the claudication is worse than before, not so much in
the
calf as the shin area. Is it normal after leg stenting to still have
severe cramps but in a different area? What can be done about the hematoma? • Myeamans -- Atherosclerosis is a chronic
systemic disease -- narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs
is essentially
the
same disease as coronary artery disease or carotid artery disease (in
the neck arteries, which can lead to stroke). Lifestyle changes (diet,
exercise,
smoking cessation) along with medical therapy can go a long way in reducing
the progression of this condition. But genes and family history, as yours
shows, is a definite risk factor. Most heart tests, especially those
that involve radiation (nuclear stress or CT Angiography) or invasive procedures
(angiogram) are usually not done unless the patient has symptoms. But
you
should check with your radiologist or cardiologist and get their opinion. • I had a angiogram and they said my arteries and
veins were very narrowed and the blood flow wasn't very good. They put
me on nifedipine to dilate the blood vessels. There was no blockage though.
Is there anything else that can be done for it? Also, should I have my
heart checked as well to see how the blood flow is, I mean if the peripheral
arteries are having problems, would the cardiac arteries be the same?
My sister had a triple bypass last year and my father died from a heart
attack.
I'm 34 years old, my sister is 37 and my dad was 62 when he died. • Bev -- We're not clear about something. You write
that the nurse checked your left foot because that's where the puncture
site was -- but the only angioplasty you mention in your post was done
on your right leg -- in 2008 and then again a couple weeks ago. Was angioplasty
attempted on your left leg as well? • Hi, had angioplasty on right leg in 2008, pain
came back in 3 mos.. Had angioplasty again 4-16-10 same leg. Right leg
is ok so far, but, now my left leg is doing the same thing right leg was
doing. I'm still having pain only on
the "good" leg now. I've been told all along my left leg was absolutely fine,
now when I called the surgeon, they say "oh you had slight blockage there too".
My blood flow after walking in left leg was 87%, right leg was only 37%. Has
anyone else had this kind of problem? They're telling me I need surgery on left
leg now! I haven't even received bills for my right leg yet! I said, if its free,
yes. If not free than, no! After surgery nurses kept checking left foot for pulse,
they said because that is where the puncture site is. Something is not right
here. Any input will help, thanks. • Janelle -- Angioplasty or surgery, these are medical
procedures and there are complications with any medical procedure. Even
if percentage-wise
they are small, they're not small if they happen to you or someone you
know. Your story is a complicated one and we would urge you to get the
answers about what happened from the radiologists or cardiologists who
did the procedure. Doctors often are reticent to speak about complications
or failures because of the the fear of lawsuits, but studies have shown
that being forthright with patients and their relatives about these issues
actually result in less, not more, malpractice suits. In fact, a major
study about this was done right in your home state of Michigan (see our
article from May 2008, "Obama
and Clinton Agree".) • Need answers re: angioplasty complications to
moms legs. Had 1st surgery on left leg 4 weeks ago, all was great, in and
out all fine. Went in two weeks
later to have the same on her rt. leg. In surgery after she was given heparin,
he BP bottomed out to under 40 and she was bleeding out. The gave her protamine
to reverse it, and ended in claudication of both legs completely. After 7 hours
in surgery to unplug both legs, she got damage of her left calve muscle and
needed surgery on that. Left the muscle open for few days, then surgery
again to scrape
off the dead skin and then stapled it closed. Now it looks infected, they are
saying it looks great. She is diabetic and I a afraid of amputation. Was it
the heparin, the protamine, or the contrast dye that about killed my mom.?
I want
answers but can't track down the doctors that care for her. Does this happen
a lot when people need angioplasty for PAD? • I have finally had an Angioplasty of the right
leg done i have suffered for over 3 years with pain from walking and
carrying any weight, no amount of exercise helped with the pain. the only
solution
i had was if i walked for 20 minutes a day and rested for 2 to heal the
pain. Three days of walking in a row always meant severe pain. The one
thing i learned was stopping mid pain increased the pain tenfold so walk
slowly through the pain and it will dissipate • My mother who is 88 in October had an unsuccessful
peripheral angioplasty 3 years ago. Now she is in a lot of pain and has
lost the feeling in her foot.
She cannot walk much as it is very painful. Could anything be done to improve
her quality of life. Would laser treatment help at all or any other treatment.
I
look forward to a response from someone. Thank you. • I had ANGIO-SEAL inserted into the Profunda vein.
I have had nothing but problems. I started with a huge aneurysm Now I
have pain with any walking and no feeling in other areas of my leg. I later
read the doctor is not supposed to put the ANGIO-SEAL in the Profunda.
What is the reason for this. • MK -- we hate reading stories like yours...where
a vascular closure device caused a serious complication. Again these
are a small percentage, but they happen. It's one reason we have been promoting
the radial (wrist) access site on Angioplasty.Org -- which has been shown
to have fewer complications and uses no closure device. No method is
perfect,
however. You might want to consult with an interventional cardiologist
or radiologist, specifically one who is experienced in placing stents
in the peripherals for a second opinion. If you haven't already, you can
read
more on our Forum Topic about "Vascular
Closure Devices" (we took the liberty of cross-posting
your comments there). • I had a botched AngioSeal closure a few months
ago and then surgery to dig it out two days later. The surgery left me
with intermittent claudication - fem artery has scar tissue in two places
due to the surgery. I am/was a healthy, active 47 year-old who wants to
be able to walk more than 1/4 mile again without having to stop due to
pain. I have two vascular surgeons with two different opinions and am quite
frustrated. One wants to place two stents - the other wants me to perhaps
wait for awhile due to my young-ish age and "scarring" trend. What is the
average lifespan of a stent? I have read that it varies, but what is the
best case scenario? Has anyone out there had luck over time (a long time..)
with
exercise and collateral circulation? Thanks in advance for any input! • COULD ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THE LIMITATION'S ARE
ONCE HOME AFTER A FEM FEM BYPASS.SUCH AS LAUNDRY,BENDING AND ETC.HAVE APPROX.
30 STAPLES TOO BE TAKEN OUT
ON THE 19TH. AUG.ALL LOOKS GOOD BUT AFRAID OF WHAT I SHOULDN'T BE DOING. THANK
YOU KINDLY. • Angiogram done without stenting on left leg.
After recovering for about 6 hours I experienced pain in my toes. Radiologist
who performed angioplasty could not tell me why and discharged me home.
Has anyone else experienced toe pain after angioplasty performed. Please
help! • Anthony -- the "kissing balloon" technique
has been around a long time. It's used in the coronaries, as well as the
legs,
at a place (as you wrote) where an artery branches. This is called a bifurcation
lesion. When plaque accumulates there, it is very hard to dilate because
when you
inflate
a
balloon in
one branch, it compresses the other branch. So two balloons are inflated
simultaneously. However, sometimes plaque has recoil -- like a sponge
that is pressed down and then regains its shape. That's why stents were
invented
-- to
hold the plaque against the artery wall. Stents can be troublesome
in a bifurcation lesion, but there are newer designs made specifically
for these. This may be what your doctor is planning.
As for
pain, this is something you should definitely discuss with your doctor.
They should be able to make you more comfortable during the procedure.
Let us know how things work out. • Hi, I had an op called a kissing angioplasty
due to P.A.D last month I am 47 and male,I received very little advice
from my consultant, other than the op was to be carried out on the main
arteries in my legs,this should in turn give me a greater quality of
life i.e. to walk more than one hundred feet without pain.It turns out
that
a kissing angioplasty is where the two balloons meet and are inflated
at the point where main artery from the heart branches off to the legs(no
stents used). Conclusion at present,NO difference in ability to walk.
I
have now been informed by my G.P.that I will have to back to have the
same OP on my legs.My question's.This OP was the most painful ordeal I
have
ever experienced,can I insist on some form of pain killer when undergoing
next OP? Also does anyone Know to other forums/chat rooms etc on this
condition. Regs, Anthony. • JD -- no one can give this type of advice without
looking at your medical records and the cine-angiograms of your procedure.
What does you interventional cardiologist/radiologist suggest? • IF ANGIOPLASTY ILIAC DIDN'T WORK AFTER 3 WEEKS, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
DOPPLER
SHOWS LITTLE TO NO BLOOD FLOW IN RIGHT LEG. • Charles -- check out our
reply from March about
the same question -- and to everyone, read through these posts before sending
in a question, because you may well find the answer. (Hint: Control
+ F on most browsers brings up a "Find" box. Type in a word you are looking
for and you will find the next occurrence of the word on the web page
that is displayed.) • please help i am 38yrs old and suffer from PAD..
Can't have a bypass as the blockage killed one of my kidneys but have
heard of silver hawk. i know that this can save me and help me walk without
pain..
all i want is to walk my baby girl to the shops and back and become a
more active person again. can i get this in the UK or if not does anyone
know
a Dr and Phone number i can call to have it done in the US. thank you
all for reading this and hope to hear from
you
soon • I had angioplasty done on the artery in my leg
four weeks ago. I now have two stints in one of the arteries.The other
two arteries in my leg are completely
blocked. My daughter is not well and I would like to fly out to be with her.
It
is a 5 hour flight. Would I be okay to fly? • I am a 39 mother of five. Last Sept. I had my
first DVT. I was an avid runner and exercised six days per week. I thought
I had torn a ligament. After many weeks of blood thinners and shots of
lovenox the vascular surgeon diagnosed May-Thurner syndrome. I have had
two angioplasty surgeries, no stents were able to be placed due to the
scarring of the iliac vein. It has been 10 months now and I am having
tremendous pain and swelling again. I do not know what to do now! Do I
go through
another angioplasty just to have no permanent resolution? Should I tell
my doctor that I demand a stent? How much pain is too much? Should I
worry about the numbness in my left foot? • Gen -- every patient has a different clinical
situation, so his physician is really the best person to ask this question.
If successful, blood flow is restored immediately (it's why coronary
angioplasty is actually able to stop a heart attack in its tracks). • The circulation in my husband's left leg is 20-30
percent which causes him great pain. HIs doctor is planning on performing
an angioplasty on the blockage. How long will it be before his circulation
responds and there is less pain? I would like to give him some hope to
keep him fighting. Thank you. • Fred -- what has your vascular
surgeon told you is the reason? He/she would be the first person to answer
this, because every patient's clinical situation is a bit different.
It may be to keep the amount of contrast dye used to a minimum during a
single
procedure, it could be that your other leg is not amenable to angioplasty. • Both of my legs have blockages, however the vascular
surgeon is going to do an angioplasty only on one leg. What is the reason
for this? • Mary -- we can't recommend a specific physician,
but you might try contacting the manufacturer. The SilverHawk was developed
by
angioplasty
pioneer and cardiologist Dr.
John
Simpson through
his company FoxHollow up in Redwood City, California. It was bought by
eV3 over a year ago (http://www.ev3.net)
-- they might be able to help you. The thing is that this is an endovascular
procedure and, as such,
is practiced across several specialities: vascular surgeons, interventional
cardiologists and interventional radiologists all do this type of work.
You are correct in looking for a physician who is highly experienced with
this device in particular -- there are great physicians in Phoenix, and
you are near several major medical
centers that have large interventional cardiology and radiology practices. Of
course whether or not the SilverHawk device is the best route can only
be determined by a physician. We would certainly recommend getting a couple
opinions. • My husband wants to have the the Silver Hawk
procedure done, hopefully in a couple of weeks. We live in Newport Beach,
Ca and he knows of a vascular surgeon in the Phoenix area. (he has all
his MRI's, etc) Is there a vascular surgeon in so California who is very
experienced with this procedure? His walking has become minimal I know
they need to go up in the groin area. Thank you!! • My mother (75) started to have foot pain.....had
stent placed in leg above knee cap. Six months later MUCH worse...more
pain, can't walk 30 feet w/out terrible
pain. Basically, clot in stent. Think before you act...do your homework, and
be careful who you select as your doctor. Doctor never mentioned it may not
work, OR that it may be worse post surgery. This was a very reputable doctor.
He now
tells her she needs bypass surgery. Hmmm....think I'll head to the MAYO CLINIC
for a second opinion. • I just had leg angioplasty and stent. Here's
2 things you might want to know. Though my doctor said that after the procedure
I would feel a little "discomfort" I had severe agonizing pain for 4 days,
requiring the strongest prescription pain killers. That's more than a little
discomfort! Secondly, about a week after the procedure I noticed a lump,
about the size of a quarter, in my groin near the insertion site. I freaked
out. My doctor mentioned nothing about any lump. It turns out that a small-medium
groin lump near the insertion site is not uncommon and, as long as it doesn't
get larger, usually goes away eventually. I wish my doctor had told me
that! So, if you are having angioplasty and a stent, you may not suffer
like I did but be prepared for these 2 possibilities. • Eddy -- the profunda is the "deep" or
farther down the leg part of the femoral artery. The interventionist (not
a surgeon) who
does these procedures often threads the guide wire as far down the artery
as is feasible in order to get torque and backup for the device to move
across the stenosis (blockage). In your case, the interventional procedure
wasn't able to fix the problem. Sounds like a vascular surgeon was able
to. Glad it worked! • I was diagnosed with a Left femoral occlusion I had surgery (Silver hawk
atherectomy)in Sep 07. It was unsuccessful, I was just wondering is it normal
during this procedure for the guidewire to selectively go into the profunda system
(whatever that is). I went to a different doctor and had femoropopliteal bypass
on 21 Nov I was out of the hospital on 23 Nov and I feel great. I was just wondering
did my first doctor make a mistake or is my case a normal thing with such surgery.
thanks. • My friend was diagnosed with PAD, and stents or angioplasty was suggested.
We just heard of the SilverHawk treatment for PAD. I understand this procedure
is relatively new. Has anyone had or heard of any complications? What are the
risks and cons of this treatment? He was very excited to hear of the SilverHawk
procedure because it didn't involve surgery. • In November 2007, a doctor performed cryoplasty
on my left thigh. Although I had never heard of this procedure until
I woke up in the recovery room, I heard they had better long-term results
with this procedure. I was wondering if I should still be experiencing
pain in my leg as if the procedure had never been performed. • The Silverhawk system worked for me on my leg.
I have also had stents placed in the leg and have had much pain. However,
I was told the wrong size stents were implanted. That's why the soreness
in the leg all the time. The doctor who implanted them is now denying
doing so! Said someone else must have done it. Ever heard of such a thing?
I
have the implant card with his signature. Have been on Plavix for quite
some time, but had a blood clot form at one of the stents in Sept.
of this year. One thing that helped me prior to the Silverhawk procedure
was
to
place a nitro patch on my leg. This was something my cardiologist suggested
and it did seem to help. • Betty -- Foxhollow was started by angioplasty
pioneer John Simpson who invented or co-founded many companies that have
advanced the whole field -- from intravascular ultrasound to the first
over-the-wire balloon systems to atherectomy and beyond. Foxhollow's
plaque removal system is a variation on
Simpson's original atherectomy device, which WAS used in the heart, but
didn't achieve great results. Foxhollow and eV3 merged in July and, as
a result, will be expanding its availability. Thanks for your posts. • Has anyone besides me checked out the Foxhollow
Technologies. They are the makers of the Silverhawk Plaque Removal System
and even since I had mine done last year, I believe great strides have
been made in this area. It is definitely worth checking into. I understand
this procedure can be used not only on peripheral arteries, but even
possibly arteries if the heart and possibly carotid arteries. Definitely
worth checking
into. • Teena C I had to have an aortic graft 4 years
ago. I was 58 years old. Already had a history of heart related problems,
beginning with a severe heart attack when I was 42. The graft was an absolute
necessity for me, due to the size of the aneurysm. I really had no choice.
I had to have the "old fashioned" kind where you are cut open from the
breast bone on down. I was in ICU for over a week and yes, it was excruciatingly
painful. However, I do know they now do the much less invasive grafts now
and the recovery rate is much quicker with much less risk and pain. Aneurysms
are definitely not something that is 'going to get better'. I was told
that I was one of the youngest they had to perform this procedure on, as
most of the patients are at least into their late 60's or early 70's. I
was scared to death of this surgery, but I also know it saved my life.
'Course, I had a wonderful surgeon who took the time to explain to me just
what would be happening and even drew a picture for me to show where, what
and how he would do it. Ask about the doctor who will do the procedure,
how many times he's performed it. I also always ask my cardiologist who
HE would use if it was him, no matter what the procedure. The greatest
of luck to you and you family.
My prayers are with you. • Teena -- you describe a difficult situation with
many related problems. One thing we can say is that Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysms can now be treated non-surgically, using a stent graft, which
is inserted
through the femoral artery in the leg/groin, much like a heart stent.
But there may be other reasons why this procedure has not been recommended. • my father's doctor doesn't want to do an aortic
aneurysm on him do to his age and health issues,, He has gangrene in
one foot really bad and a smaller amount on the other. Doc said he might
not
make it out of the OR, and if bye chance he does he isn't sure if it
will work because it is bad-- no blood running in one leg and a small amount
it other, plus ab is also blocked pretty much. Did test on heart problems
there as well, and just doesn't think that I should have this done on
him,
and that is fine, it my sisters and brothers that don't understand and
think it will help and that he will be fine. I just don't understand
all there is about this and i need as much info to try and get sisters
and
brothers to understand that my father is in bad shape, he has cancer
of the lung and throat-spreading-arteries are bad, he got the gangrene,cant
stand anymore and overall going down hill everyday at the hospital..
I
need help please he is only 64 and doing poorly. • Doug -- these decisions are very much individualized
ones. By that, we mean each person's anatomical characteristics and clinical
situation differs. We would recommend that you consult an interventional
cardiologist or radiologist or a vascular surgeon who is trained in endovascular
techniques and have them give you an opinion as to success rates, etc.
A factoid: the word angioplasty was coined in the 60's by Dr.
Charles Dotter,
a radiologist whose main concern was in treating patients with severe claudication in
the legs. • I'm considering angioplasty and stenting in the
right leg below the knee where there is severe claudication; I'm evaluating
the pro and cons, alternatives, and trying to get some idea of the success
rate. By success I mean for that artery to remain unoccluded for several
years, at least. The more severe risks of the procedure are not my concern
for now. • Wendy -- it's called peripheral angioplasty and
stenting. Vice President Cheney recently had two stents placed in his
legs. Another device used in the leg is called an atherectomy catheter,
which
literally shaves the plaque away -- the most used one is made by a company
called FoxHollow. • My fiance has been going through the VA in Castle
Point Bronx and Montrose, today they tell us that he needs to have a stent
in his leg to get the blood flow back to the foot so that his wound will
heal. Is there other options or should we be confident in this procedure • Mary L -- we're very sorry for your loss. Any
device or medical procedure has complications. The regimen of anticoagulation
is often used prior to a procedure, in order to keep blood clots from forming
-- something that is more often seen in the peripheral vessels. This can
complicate the need to achieve hemostatis once the procedure is finished.
But we're not clear where this bleeding occurred. Did an artery get dissected
during the SilverHawk procedure? Even then an emergency vascular repair
perhaps would be done. Or was this something that occurred after the procedure? • My mother went in for catheterization for leg
blockage using the SilverHawk catheter, she was given Plavix and aspirin
for a week before the procedure - therefore she bleed to death. Curious
to know if anyone out there has had or heard of any complications using
the SilverHawk catheter device procedure. Appreciate a response. • Jonell -- the rash is certainly a known adverse
reaction to Plavix (see our topic on Plavix,
Aspirin and Stents). Joint pain has been associated with statins. Our
Forum does have a topic on "Allergic
Reactions to Drug-Eluting Stents", but often such reactions are
due to medications, as you've discovered. You've already discussed this
with your doctor -- possibly these other reactions are also due to meds.
Especially in elderly people, the exact dosage can take a while to adjust
correctly. Let us know how things progress. • My elderly mother has had peripheral stenting
done approx 3 weeks ago-I'm unsure of which type stent was used. 1 week
ago she developed symptoms of severe rash, itching, and hives-head to toe.
She was placed on decadron, pepcid, singulair, and zyrtec. The rash has
resolved, but now we are dealing with severe joint swelling, pain, and
progressive weakness. Has anyone else experienced this with peripheral
stenting? The internist suggested a Plavix allergy, and consequently D/C'd
it, using only aspirin at this time. Could you refer me to any other websites
that might provide more info. • John -- success (and risk) rates are variable,
depending on exactly where in the leg the blockage is (above the knee,
below the knee, what artery exactly....) and also the clinical data on
each individual patient. Your interventional cardiologist or radiologist
would be able to answer these questions better than any general source,
and also they can give you the alternatives for treatment, other than angioplasty,
to help you decide what's best. Have you asked him/her? Let us know how
you fare. • i am going for a angioplasty in april can
you tell me what the success rate is, i have a blockage in my right leg
should i have it done i am 73 years old and what are the risks. • I live in the UK and a month ago underwent
angiogram for PAD. During this procedure damage was done to the iliac
which produced an obstruction on the other side. I was re admitted through
A and E a week later. Having had an CT scan I was again taken to theatre
where angioplasty was performed on the new and original site under L
A. Since then I have developed fatigue and giddiness on exertion. Tests
have shown I am not anemic. Now what? • Jasu -- angioplasty was first invented by Charles
Dotter back in 1964 to treat blockages in the leg and to try to prevent
gangrene without amputating the foot. Any estimate at a success rate would
not be very meaningful to your mother, since she has a complex clinical
situation. Only her doctors can tell you the risks involved in your mother's
specific situation, but it sounds like they are trying to solve the problem
in the least invasive way. Good luck and let us know how things go. • My mother -- 85 yrs young is going for angiogram/angioplasty
in her right leg where circulation is only 25%. A wound in big toe is not
healing due to bad circulation. Upper skin now dry and black. They say
angiogram/angioplasty will prevent gangrene. Please let me know what is
success rate of this procedure and also risk factor. My mother is diabetic,
had a heart attack 7 yrs back and had TIA in May 06. She is paralyzed from
chest down T7/T8 spinal injury. She gets lot of spasms in her right leg.
Please let me me know whether it is dangerous to do angiogram due to her
spasms. Her procedure in on 17th July. Please let me know urgently • Beverly, the terms arteriogram and angiogram are
basically interchangeable -- they describe an imaging technique in which
a catheter is threaded to a vessel in the body and, under X-rays, a contrast
dye is injected. The result shows up as a 2-dimensional moving black and
white "movie" of the vessel. It can show defects, blockages and
generally describe the anatomical structures. Confusion about arm, leg
or groin may stem from the differences between the target area (destination)
that the doctor is trying to look at, and the entry start point into the
body. For example, in a coronary angiogram, the cardiologist usually makes
a small puncture in the femoral artery in the right groin, roughly the
point where the leg and torso connect. He/she threads a catheter into the
femoral artery and northwards into and around the aortic arch in the chest
and then down into the left and/or right coronary arteries. A squeeze of
the dye and the coronary arteries can be seen. But the entry point is the
groin. Other entry points used are the wrist (radial artery) or the arm
(brachial). But once inside the circulatory system, no matter where the
entry point, the cardiologist or radiologist can steer the catheter to
any number of internal structures: the heart, neck (carotid arteries),
legs, kidneys, etc. -- literally using the body's circulatory system as
a "highway". In your father's case, if they are looking to visualize
his leg, they will most likely enter through the right or left groin, and
then advance the catheter down into the leg to visualize any blockages
and make treatment decisions. Perhaps he is having a carotid angiogram,
to measure the arteries in his neck (blocked carotids are a major cause
of stroke) in which case they might still go in through the groin. See
our article on Cardiac
Catheterization for more information. Can't comment on the blood pressure. • My dad is having a arteriogram test today in hospital
in Tennessee. Every time I go into WebMD, and ask about arteriogram it
brings up angiogram. Are they the same? He is have this done in his leg
and most of your correspondence is saying in arm or groin? Just a little
confused. Can you explain the difference. History of my Dad: stroke few
years back, has seizers for last 10 years. Gets dizzy and falls a lot.
Also his blood pressure was quoted as 54/51. Is this possible? • Mohammed, we assume when you say thickening of
the "nerves", you mean "arteries". It sounds as though
you have been diagnosed with either peripheral artery disease or deep vein
thrombosis (DVT). We also assume that you currently are under medical care
and stress that it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations.
There are some "fixes" for peripheral disease, such as the FoxHollow
atherectomy device which removes plaque, and others. Have you had an angiogram?
Or a multislice CT angiogram of your legs? This would show where the blockages
are. Have you seen an interventional specialist (radiologist, cardiologist
or vascular surgeon). • For the past 4 years i am suffering from blood
clotting on my both the legs. I consulted many doctors. Some of them ask
me to put bandage and some of them gave heavy dosage drugs. They said its
because of thickening my nerves which prevents the proper flow of blood.
I am very much afraid of myself and feeling very insecure. Now my both
legs (ankle part) got black colour (scar). Even a small wound are not getting
healed. It takes months heals only if i put bandage very tightly. Please
let me know the reason and medicines which i should take. Very Urgent. • Carol -- an angiogram is
the gold standard for visualizing blockages (the newer multislice
CT angiogram is also very accurate and less invasive). Once your doctor
determines the location and percent blockage, he/she can recommend the
proper treatment. After an angiogram, you should be able to get back to
work in a couple days, but these judgements are really best done by your
doctor, who knows you far better than we can. Let us know the outcome. • I have diabetic neuropathy and PAD. My former
doctor, who sent me to a neurologist, said there is nothing wrong with
me....all in my head. (although the pain sometimes is so great I have to
use a cane for walking more than about a block). She said I just wanted
her to give me pain meds, although I have never asked her for any. Doppler
tests have been conclusive that the blockage is significant. My new Dr.
is sending me to a Vascular Surgeon for an angiogram. How long can I figure
to be out of work? • He was referred to this said consultant by his
cardiologist when he begun suffering the vascular cramps upon his right
leg 10 years ago, I think he is a vascular surgeon. My father was diagnosed
with a 'sticky' aortic valve at around the same time, high cholesterol,
(around 7) and high blood pressure. He instantly dramatically altered his
lifestyle and his blood pressure is stable at a reasonable level and his
cholesterol is down to 4.8. He is on warfarin though, does this have an
influence? • Jessica -- not sure what specialty your consultant
practices -- the medical system in the U.K. differs from the U.S. -- but
determinations for prognosis in the leg are usually best done by consulting
an interventional radiologist or interventional cardiologist (one who does "peripheral" work)
or a vascular surgeon. But, as for advice, without knowing your father's
clinical status and history and seeing exactly where the blockages are,
it's impossible for anyone to give a recommendation. Also you should certainly
find out what this "heart problem" was. Peripheral vascular disease
is really the same as coronary artery disease -- they're both diseases
of the vasculature, so very often people with one also have the other.
Have there been angiorams or CT scans of the leg and/or heart? • My family and I are concerned with the advice
that my father has been given regarding his prognosis. He has had angioplasty
upon his right leg twice now, (the latest being around 4 years ago where
the surgeon placed a too large tube in and damaged it resulting in 1 week
of intensive care for my father). Yesterday his consultant informed him
that he had a 40% occlusion in his left leg and 60% again in his right
leg. He then stated that there was a very high risk that my father could
lose either of his legs if another angioplasty was performed! My father
cannot walk 100yards at present but refuses to have the relevant procedures
because of this prognosis. This consultant also stated that my father's
heart had a problem, (not specifying what!) yet my father is under routine
care from a cardiologist because their is a history of heart disease in
the family and his check up 4 weeks ago was fine. Please assist! • Polly, here are a couple thoughts. First off,
a web site cannot really give medical advice on specific situations like
should you or shouldn't you have a procedure. The decision-making process
is complex and needs to be done WITH a doctor. It sounds like
you are having rest pain in your leg and your doctor has recommended a "peripheral
angioplasty" -- that is, an angioplasty done in your leg artery to
relieve the pain. If you are concerned about whether or not this is advisable,
your might want to get a second opinion -- we don't know what specialty
your doctor practices, but generally speaking, three types of doctors deal
with this part of the body: vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists,
and interventional radiologists. All three do "interventional" procedures,
a.k.a. "angioplasty" with or without stenting. The vascular surgeon
also can do an "open" surgical procedure, or prescribe medical
management, where the blockage is not cleared out, but the patient remains
on medications. Why one and not the other? Depends on the severity of the
pain and whether or not the reduced blood flow may be compromising the
rest of the leg and foot. You should ask your doctor what the success rate
is for your specific situation (what can you expect after the angioplasty
or surgery -- and they're two very different procedures to correct the
same problem). We can't say what the success rate may be because much depends
on the exact location and type of lesion (blockage) as well as many other
factors. We hope this advice is of some help. • Hi everyone, I am Polly, angioplasty forthcoming
June 5th 2006. I am scared. My Doc has been aware of the great pain I have
been having both cramps, and extreme pain in the night in my feet calf
and thigh, she said "get a walking stick". I didn't but one week later
I went back and said to her, it's not a walking stick I need, it's crutches!..
only then did she arrange for me to have doppler done. Here I am 3 yrs
later.. on doc's orders of 'keep walking'!!!! I have actually gone through
the pain barrier hence bleeding spots everwhere. Depressed ? tell me about
it! Anyway I am now booked in for surgery 5th June 2006 balloon/stent rfa...I
am not in pain, never felt so good in years.. but yes, the blockage is
still there, HELP ! should I be having this surgery.. I have created a
bypass that's why I am ok now.. please answer.. I live alone so I somewhat
stress a little!! • There is a relatively new procedure being done
for peripheral artery disease, and being done with great success. Research
online for 'Foxhollow' procedure. • I would also like to know the average success
rates as I have just had two stents inserted into heart arteries. Also
can any one tell me what symptoms? or reactions to expect afterwards? • I am a student of SCU as doctoral
candidate. I look for some articles about the outcome of PTCA to compare
with its benchmark
in this world..... • I
was interested in finding out the success rate of peripheral vascular
angioplasty, and restenosis rate. • Have recently had
the angioplasty and 3 stents during this procedure. 05/29/00. Am anxious
to know the success rate and of course the failure rate for stents. How
many months? years? can, and has this been successful ? Can I expect
to have the stents redone? within a specific time frame. apart from the
blockages, my total cholestoral is 3.3, also I have never had a heart
attack. Any info would be appreciated,tks. • What about peripheral angioplasty
with stent at femoral artery? How successful is that and what is the
failure rate? |
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