Recent studies show that nearly 8 million Americans suffer with peripheral artery disease (PAD) involving arteries of the lower extremities. This number is expected to continue to rise as the population ages. Risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, hypertension, morbid obesity, and renal disease contribute to the increased diagnosis of PAD in the United States.
As the condition becomes more common, vascular surgeons such as Dr. Lam are seeking new, less invasive and more effective ways to treat patients with PAD. Most doctors who specialize in vascular diseases use balloon expansion as the principal therapy in treating lower-extremity PAD. However, Dr. Lam offers a viable alternative to more traditional treatment methods: laser atherectomy.
What is laser atherectomy?
Laser Atherectomy is a minimally invasive endovascular technique for removing plaque from blood vessels within the body. The procedure uses a catheter that emits high energy light (laser) to unblock the artery. Dr. Lam maneuvers the catheter through the vessel until it reaches the blockage.
Laser energy is used to essentially vaporize the blockage inside the vessel resulting in increased blood flow to the peripheral tissue.
Harvey’s Story
Click here to read more Dr. Lam performed laser atherectomy to save Canada resident Harvey Spurrell’s foot from an almost-inevitable amputation.
Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms
Blocked blood flow to your legs can cause pain and numbness. It also can raise your risk of infection in the affected limbs. It may be hard for your body to fight the infection, and if severe enough, blocked blood flow can cause tissue death (gangrene). In very serious cases, this can lead to leg amputation.
If you have pain in your legs when you walk or climb stairs, talk to your doctor. Sometimes older people mistakenly think that leg pain is just a symptom of aging. However, the cause for the pain could be P.A.D.
Don’t wait until it’s too late; Dr. Lam wants to help. Schedule an appointment today.
The information contained in this article is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice. Patient results will vary based on risk factors, age, disease and medical history and are not guaranteed in any way.
