Atherosclerosis And Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment Options

Non-surgical treatment

Vascular specialists will generally start with conservative treatment and lifestyle changes. These may include:

• Medications to manage pain symptoms 
• Quitting smoking 
• Increasing exercise 
• Eating a healthier diet 
• Weight loss

Surgical treatment

• Endarterectomy: Surgical removal of plaque inside the narrowed artery 
• Bypass: Surgical rerouting of blood flow around a blocked vessel using either an artificial graft or a blood vessel taken from your body (usually the other leg) at the time of the surgery 
• Angioplasty: Insertion of thin, flexible tube called a catheter into the artery, which is advanced to the point of the blockage. Then the surgeon inflates a tiny balloon through the end of the tube, inflates the balloon to press the plaque deposits against the artery wall, improving blood flow 
• Stenting: A stent is a small expandable tube that is often inserted through the catheter after an angioplasty to reinforce the artery wall where the blockage is. A stent is most often used in the major arteries and makes it less likely that the blockage will reoccur. It is less likely to be used in the smaller leg arteries

Connect With Us

To reach the Vascular Program at Lawrence General, please call 978-946-8564.