Peripheral arterial disease

From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

In medicine, peripheral arterial disease (peripheral artery disease; PAD) is a form of arterial occlusive disease. More specifically, PAD is arteriosclerosis in the arteries of the lower extremities usually from atherosclerosis.

Contents 1 Diagnosis 2 Physical examination 3 Treatment 4 Prognosis 5 References

Diagnosis

Physical examination

On physical examination, the ankle brachial index (ABI) can be estimated.

Treatment

Surgery may hasten improvement as compared to a supervised exercise program.^[1]

Prognosis

The Revised Cardiac Risk Indexmay predict short and long term complications among patients undergoing surgery for peripheral arterial disease.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Spronk S, Bosch JL, den Hoed PT, Veen HF, Pattynama PM, Hunink MG (February 2009). Intermittent claudication: clinical effectiveness of endovascular revascularization versus supervised hospital-based exercise training--randomized controlled trial. Radiology 250 (2): 586–95. DOI:10.1148/radiol.2501080607. PMID 19188327.
2. ↑ Hoeks SE, op Reimer WJ, van Gestel YR, et al. (June 2009). Preoperative cardiac risk index predicts long-term mortality and health status. Am. J. Med. 122 (6): 559–65. DOI:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.10.041. PMID 19376487.