Touro’s heart and vascular physicians and specialists in New Orleans
utilize advanced vascular treatment procedures to improve blood circulation
problems and inhibit fatty build-up in the carotid arteries (causing a
stroke), coronary arteries (causing a heart attack), or peripheral arteries
(causing loss of limb). Vascular disease can be caused by blood clots
that block blood flow, inflammation that narrows blood vessels, limb injury
or genetics. The most common cause of vascular disease is Atherosclerosis,
a buildup of a fatty substance called plaque inside the arteries.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (aka peripheral artery disease or PAD),
most commonly affects the legs and feet when plaque accumulates in the
arteries. PAD is a slow and progressive circulation disorder. The narrowing,
blockage, or spasms in a blood vessel can lead to a condition called Critical
Limb Ischemia, a severe form of peripheral artery disease. If blood flow
to the toe, foot, or leg is completely blocked, the tissue starts to die
(gangrene). Medical care is needed right away to restore blood flow and
reduce the risk of losing the limb.
Carotid artery disease, reduces the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain
needs a constant supply of oxygen to work. Even a brief pause in blood
supply can cause problems. Brain cells start to die after just a few minutes
without blood or oxygen. If the narrowing of the carotid arteries is severe
enough that blood flow is blocked, it can cause a stroke. If a piece of
plaque breaks off, it can block blood flow to the brain. This too can
cause a stroke.
The most common cause of coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis when
the blood supply coronary to the heart muscle reduced due to a blockage.
A heart attack can result because the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood
to work, and oxygen-depleted blood to be carried away. To restore blood
flow, angioplasty, coronary stenting or even bypass surgery may be utilized.
Peripheral artery disease treatment
PAD Program
Touro’s Peripheral Artery Disease Program is a part of the Wound
Care Center. Treatment includes medications, therapies and procedures
that improve blood flow to the extremities. Specialists in cardiology,
cardiovascular surgery, interventional radiology, wound care, plastic
surgery, orthopedics, rehabilitation, and infectious disease work together
to prevent infection, heal wounds and ulcers, improve circulation, and
preserve limbs and their function. The program offers options if you have
been diagnosed with PAD, claudication, an abnormal ABI test result, and/or
non-healing ulcers due to arterial insufficiency. Depending on the severity,
poor circulation management may range from lifestyle changes, medications,
angioplasty, stenting, to artery bypass.
Angioplasty and stenting
Angioplasty and stenting are procedures to improve the blood flow in an
artery or vein (heart (coronary artery), legs (peripheral artery), or
neck (carotid artery). Balloon angioplasty inserts a special catheter
with a balloon tip into the blocked blood vessel that inflates, compresses
the fatty tissue or plaque, and widens the opening for improved blood
flow. The surgeon may then place a small stent in the artery to keep it
open, remove the plaque by atherectomy or bypass the artery such as in
femoral popliteal bypass surgery, the largest artery in the thigh.
Venous insufficiency
Varicose and spider veins
These are twisted, enlarged veins typically occurring in the legs. For
most people, it’s a relatively harmless cosmetic issue that requires
no care, but some cases can be more dangerous—that’s where
we can help. If you have dark purple or blue veins that look twisted or
bulging, or if they ache, burn, throb, or cramp, it's important to get
checked for the underlying cause. Venous insufficiency is the improper
functioning of the vein valves in the leg and can lead to more serious
or painful leg issues.
This is a severe ailment in which you may experience painful foot, ankle,
or leg swelling on one side. You may also notice your skin is warm in
patches surrounded by cooler skin, in either arms and legs or both. Blood
clots are the cause of DVT, so be vigilant. If you experience any of these
symptoms, come in so we can help you with treatment to avoid severe consequences
to your heart.
Patient-centered care from Touro Heart Care
One of our guiding principles at Touro Heart Care is the need to treat
each patient individually. Some treatments work well for some but not
others, so we adapt our healing strategies to suit each patient’s
unique needs. Our willingness to embrace our patients’ individuality
is one of the reasons our center is so well-respected by our peers in
the medical community.
