Peripheral Vascular Intervention Specialist

What is a peripheral vascular intervention?

A peripheral vascular intervention is a procedure the team at Levine Heart & Wellness uses to open blocked arteries around your body. Your peripheral blood vessels are the ones that go into your arms, torso, head, and legs rather than the ones in your heart.

Peripheral vascular disease is a condition that arises when there's a blockage or narrowed section in the peripheral arteries of your neck, abdomen, arms, and legs. Peripheral vascular disease can cause conditions like:

• Stroke
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Kidney problems
• High blood pressure

The Levine Heart & Wellness team uses a selection of advanced peripheral vascular intervention techniques to diagnose and treat peripheral vascular disease.

What diagnostic peripheral vascular interventions might I need?

The range of peripheral vascular interventions available at Levine Heart & Wellness for diagnosing peripheral vascular disease includes:

Peripheral catheterization

This catheterization procedure is similar to cardiac catheterization. It involves inserting a tiny tube in your artery and using diagnostic imaging technology to look at the blood vessels in detail.

Peripheral angiogram

This is a test for finding narrow or blocked arteries in your legs. It involves using a dye injected in the artery that shows up on X-ray images. Your provider might perform a peripheral angiogram to assess your need for angioplasty or stent placement in an artery.

What peripheral vascular treatments might I need?

Peripheral vascular treatments available at Levine Heart & Wellness include:

Peripheral angioplasty

A similar procedure to cardiac angioplasty in your heart. The team might use a medical balloon to open up the artery or insert a mesh tube called a stent to keep the artery open and ensure blood can flow freely.

Arterial thrombectomy

Thrombectomy is the removal of a clot, in this case from a peripheral artery. Clots can develop if there's a problem in the artery, such as a plaque rupture. Your provider at Levine Heart & Wellness uses a catheter to remove the clot and restore blood flow.

Peripheral atherectomy

Peripheral atherectomy is a method of breaking up the plaque lining your artery walls. Plaque is the primary cause of blocked arteries (atherosclerosis). Peripheral atherectomy smooths the inner surfaces of the artery and opens it up to improve blood flow.

If you'd like to find out more about peripheral vascular interventions and how they can help you, call Levine Heart & Wellness today or book an appointment online.