Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a serious vascular condition that can impact your quality of life and your overall health. If left untreated, the symptoms can grow severe and lead to stroke or even amputation.
If you’re experiencing claudication, leg weakness, or constant leg pain, consider scheduling a consultation with a vascular specialist for a professional PAD diagnosis. A vascular specialist will discuss treatment plans and likely recommend outpatient PAD treatment.
This article will explore the benefits of receiving outpatient vascular care for PAD. Here’s everything you need to know:
What is PAD?
PAD is caused by plaque build-up in the arteries. When the plaque builds up, it prevents blood, oxygen, and nutrients from flowing to the lower extremities.
For individuals with PAD, walking or climbing stairs can be challenging. Pain and discomfort during physical activity subside during rest but resume with renewed activity. Numbness, weakness, or chronic leg pain are also symptoms associated with PAD.
PAD is a progressive disease and is not reversible. If you are diagnosed with this condition, consider scheduling a consultation with a vascular specialist to discuss treatments, lifestyle changes, and medications.
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Diagnosed with PAD
Once you schedule a consultation with a vascular specialist, they’ll use a series of tests to diagnose your condition. The most common tests are an ankle-brachial index (ABI) exam, ultrasound, angiography, and blood test.
It’s important to note that early intervention and timely treatment can help lessen the severity of symptoms and prevent your condition from worsening. If you notice any symptoms of PAD, you’ll want to schedule a consultation immediately. If your PAD has progressed, you may not be eligible for outpatient PAD treatment after your diagnosis.
What is Outpatient Vascular Care?
When you receive outpatient care, it means you undergo a specific procedure and can go home the same day. A vascular specialist may ask you to return a few days later to check your progress, but you won’t be required to stay overnight in a hospital.
At USA Vascular Centers, we offer outpatient PAD treatment in our state-of-the-art office-based treatment centers in convenient locations in 12 different states. Our highly skilled vascular doctors utilize state-of-the-art tools and advanced technology to diagnose and effectively treat patients with PAD accurately. Their goal is to relieve your condition so you can improve your quality of life and return to your daily life.
It’s important to note that outpatient treatment for PAD can only help patients who are in the early stages of PAD. If you are at a more severe stage of PAD, you may require inpatient care to prevent heart attack, stroke, or limb amputation.
Outpatient Vascular Procedures
At USA Vascular Centers, we specialize in three clinic-based outpatient vascular procedures. These treatments are minimally invasive and designed to alleviate symptoms caused by PAD. The three different treatments they would recommend include:
- Angioplasty: A catheter is used to insert a balloon into your artery. The balloon is designed to expand within the affected artery to push the plaque against the artery walls.
- Stenting: After an angioplasty, a stent is inserted into the affected artery to help keep the artery propped open.
- Atherectomy: A laser or blade removes plaque from the body during this treatment.
During your consultation with a vascular specialist, they’ll discuss the treatment options and make an expert recommendation based on your symptoms.
Advantages of Outpatient Vascular Care for PAD
There are many advantages of outpatient vascular procedures for PAD performed at our clinics. If your vascular specialist decides this is the best treatment option for the severity of your condition, you can expect the following best-in-class treatment.
Comfort and Convenience
The day you arrive for PAD treatment, you can expect to spend around two hours at the clinic-based center. Most of the procedures only last around 45 minutes, and then you’ll be asked to stay at the facility for a brief recovery period. Once the doctor approves, you can return home to begin your recovery.
Faster Recovery Time
Outpatient PAD treatment has a quicker recovery time than surgical intervention. During the treatment, you are given local sedation so you can return home afterward and recover in the comfort of your home. Stitches are also typically not required with any of the three outpatient PAD treatments available at USA Vascular Centers.
Reduced Healthcare Costs
Since outpatient care doesn’t require overnight stays, you can save on the overall cost of your treatment plan. USA Vascular Centers is also accredited by the American Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC), which means we qualify for insurance coverage and Medicare and Medicaid certification.
Traditional Inpatient Care vs. Outpatient Vascular Care
Outpatient vascular care is typically more affordable than inpatient care. It also ensures you access specialized care in a patient-centered facility with vascular specialists trained in venous treatment.
If you decide to take the inpatient care route, you may be at greater risk of developing hospital-acquired infections. Being in a hospital setting is also more stressful for some individuals and can be costly.
However, some patients don’t have the choice between traditional inpatient care and outpatient vascular care. If you experience a heart attack or stroke, you’ll need to get treatment from a hospital immediately.
Get Your Outpatient Care with USA Vascular Centers
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with PAD, the first step you’ll want to do is discuss your treatment options with a vascular specialist. If caught early, you may be eligible for one of the three minimally invasive outpatient vascular procedures available at USA Vascular Centers. Our goal is to help lessen the severity of your symptoms and help you maintain your current lifestyle. Schedule a consultation online today.
