Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition that damages the arteries passing through the arms and legs. In these parts of the body, the arteries become narrower and can become clogged.
Right now, interventional radiology is the most effective and minimally invasive method of treating PAD. This new branch of healthcare can provide several types of treatment, such as:
1. Thrombolysis
This is a procedure which an interventional radiologist will perform in emergency situations, when a large clot prevents the body from getting the necessary oxygen supply. This treatment is performed in hospital and involves delivering medicines directly to the affected area in order to dissolve the blood clot. Further PAD treatment Missouri clinics have available will be needed to resolve the narrowed artery.
2. Angioplasty
An interventional radiologist can insert small inflatable balloons into narrowed arteries to enlarge them. In some cases, the balloons are coated in medicines to prevent scarring and future narrowing of the artery. Although it sounds a little scary, it is a perfectly safe procedure and highly beneficial.
3. Thrombectomy
When a blood clot is really big and risks becoming loose and being carried away by blood, an interventional radiologist will remove it directly. Using miniaturized medical tools, the specialist will draw out the clot from the patient’s body.