Peripheral Vascular Surgery In India Types Of Surgery & Cost In India
Added: (Thu Oct 29 2009)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Peripheral Vascular Surgery In India
Overview
Peripheral Vascular Disease - Surgery
What is peripheral vascular disease?
Peripheral vascular disease is narrowing and blockage of the blood vessels that supply blood to the arms and legs. It causes a reduction in blood flow to these areas. In most cases, the legs are affected....
What causes it?
Peripheral vascular disease is usually caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by a build-up of fatty plaques on the inside walls of blood vessels. The plaques can eventually completely block the flow of blood through the arteries. ..
Risk factors for atherosclerosis (and peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease) include : -
* Diabetes
* High cholesterol levels
* High blood pressure
* Smoking...
What are the symptoms?
Peripheral vascular disease can be quite advanced before symptoms occur. Symptoms depend on the severity of the blockage.
Pain or cramping in the affected area is the main symptom and is usually one of the first symptoms to develop. It may begin as an achy, tired sensation in the affected muscles when exercising...
Other symptoms include : -
* Cold feet.
* Numbness of the feet and toes.
* Skin changes on the legs and feet : - skin may be pale or bluish, thin and shiny, or dry and scaly; loss of hair may occur on the tops of the feet and the nails may become thickened....
Peripheral vascular disease usually develops gradually and symptoms progressively get worse. However, acute symptoms may develop suddenly if an embolism occurs (part of a blood clot breaks off and becomes lodged in a narrowed artery) or if a blot clot develops in a blood vessel already narrowed by an atherosclerotic plaque, causing sudden restriction of blood flow....
How is it diagnosed ?
Your doctor may suspect peripheral vascular disease because of your symptoms (calf pain on walking, relieved by rest). He will enquire about risk factors for atherosclerosis and will examine you. Your weight and blood pressure and the pulses in your feet, legs, and groin will be checked...
How is peripheral vascular disease treated?
The main priority is to identify and treat risk factors for peripheral vascular disease and minimise the progression of atherosclerosis.
* Stop smoking : - nicotine causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.
* Blood sugar should be controlled in people with diabetes...
Other treatment : -
Your doctor may sometimes prescribe medicines to improve blood flow.
Surgery may be necessary for severe blockages. Options include : -
* The blocked area is removed and replaced with a piece of vein taken from another part of the body (graft). Sometimes synthetic material instead of a vein is used for the graft. Abdominal surgery may be necessary to treat blockages in the arteries supplying the legs....
How can I prevent peripheral vascular disease?
Peripheral vascular disease can be prevented by the same preventative measures that help prevent coronary heart disease : -
* Exercise regularly
* Maintain a healthy weight
* Dont smoke
* Maintain a normal blood pressure
* Maintain normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels
* Eat a diet low in fat and refined sugar, and high in complex carbohydrates and fibre...