Vascular Center

Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease:   

• Hip pain
• Thigh and leg pain
• Foot pain
• Leg weakness
• Buttock pain

Some PAD risks include:  

• Atherosclerosis
• Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
• Peripheral venous disease and varicose veins
• Aneurysm

Tests recommended to check for peripheral arterial disease include:

• Ultrasound
• Blood test to check for high cholesterol
• Angiogram
• Ankle-brachial index

The goal of peripheral arterial disease treatment is to avoid amputation, especially if you have critical limb ischemia — the most severe form of PAD, characterized by gangrene, ulcers, and intolerable leg pain. 

LEARN MORE

Diabetes  

Diabetes is a serious, long-term condition that develops when you don’t produce the hormone insulin at all, don’t make enough insulin, or your body can’t use the insulin it’s making. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calculates that about 100 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.

Causes of type 2 diabetes includes:    

• Aging
• High-sugar diet
• High-fat diet
• Lack of exercise
• Family history
• Weight

Complications diabetes can cause:

• Heart disease
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• Stroke
• Renal (kidney) disease
• High cholesterol
• Atherosclerosis
• Vision damage

Treatment for Diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take insulin. You might also need insulin or other medications like metformin if you have type 2 diabetes. The most effective way to manage type 2 diabetes is to lead a healthier lifestyle, so making changes is essential.

LEARN MORE

Critical limb ischemia  

Critical limb ischemia is a condition that causes inadequate blood flow and oxygen to certain parts of the body. While it’s most common in the limbs, it can occur anywhere, including the heart, intestines, or brain.

What causes Critical limb ischemia?    

A blockage or narrowing of an artery causes most cases of critical limb ischemia. It’s typically the result of advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a serious condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to your hands, feet, arms, legs, head, and other organs.

Risk factors for critical limb ischemia include:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Vascular disease
• Family history of vascular disease
• Lack of exercise
• Age (after menopause for women and over 60 for men)
• Plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis)

 Most common warning signs and critical limb ischemia symptoms are:

• Numbness in the legs
• Shiny, dry skin on the legs or feet
• Leg pain
• Sores or infections that won’t heal on the legs or feet
• Gangrene (tissue death)
• Thickening toenails
• Temperature decrease in the affected limb
• Muscle pain
• Pale skin on the affected limb
• Limb pain while resting

While ischemia is most common in the limbs, especially the legs, it can affect your organs as well.

LEARN MORE

Minimally Invasive Endovascular Procedures

Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular provides office-based minimally invasive endovascular procedures. This ensures you can access the most advanced forms of minimally invasive treatment, but with the additional benefits of convenience, affordability, and individually tailored care.

Conditions that minimally invasive endovascular procedures treat:    

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• Atherosclerosis
• Carotid artery disease
• Renal vascular disease
• Thoracic aneurysms
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Critical limb ischemia
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Types of minimally invasive endovascular procedures:

• Balloon angioplasty and stenting
• Blood clot treatments
• Atherectomy
• Embolization

Benefits of minimally invasive endovascular procedures:

• Smaller incisions
• Less discomfort
• Less blood loss
• Fewer risks
• Minimal scarring
• Shorter recovery time

The procedure is far less stressful for your heart and could be suitable for patients who are too sick or have too high a risk of complications to undergo open surgery.

LEARN MORE

Vascular Imaging

Vascular imaging technology is a highly effective way of assessing blood flow through your veins and arteries.  Vascular imaging uses ultrasound technology, which is one of the safest forms of diagnostic imaging. It doesn’t use any ionizing radiation like X-rays or a CT scan would.

What is vascular imaging used for?  

• Identify problems like plaque build-up that’s responsible for the narrowing of the arteries
• See if you have a fat embolus or a blood clot
• Locate the deep blood clots that form when you have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Pinpoint where the problem valves are that are affecting efficient blood flow.
• Determine whether you’re able to undergo a surgical procedure such as an angioplasty 

LEARN MORE

Vascular Disease

Vascular diseases are those that affect your circulation, which could include conditions as different as varicose veins and stroke. 

Vascular disease isn’t a single condition; it’s a term for the numerous diseases that can affect your:

• Veins
• Arteries
• Lymph vessels
• Lymph nodes

Common types of vascular diseases:  

• Atherosclerosis
• Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
• Peripheral venous disease and varicose veins
• Aneurysm

Diagnostic tools to determine the cause of vascular disease

Dr. Odiete uses a variety of advanced diagnostic tools to help him pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

• Ultrasound
• Intravascular ultrasound
• Arteriography
• Ankle-brachial index (ABI)
• CTA (computed tomography arteriogram) scan
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) arteriogram
• Doppler ultrasound
• Catheter angiography 

LEARN MORE