Peripheral artery angioplasty is a procedure that opens a narrowed or blocked artery in the leg or arm from the inside, through a small needle puncture without a skin incision, using a balloon and sometimes a stent. Peripheral artery angioplasty is most often used to treat leg artery blockage, and Dr. Walid Naser performs it in Amman after a careful assessment.
Note: This page is general education. Whether the procedure suits you is decided after examination and imaging; it is not right for every patient.
When is peripheral angioplasty considered?
- Leg pain when walking that limits daily life despite lifestyle changes and medicines.
- Foot pain at rest.
- Foot wounds that do not heal because of poor blood flow.
- Critical limb ischemia that puts the foot at risk.
- Narrowing in arm, kidney or other arteries in selected cases.
What does it treat and why does narrowing happen?
Angioplasty treats narrowing that is usually caused by atherosclerosis, a build-up of plaque in the artery wall over time. It is more likely with:
- Smoking.
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Older age.
Tests before angioplasty
Before angioplasty your doctor finds where the narrowing is and how long it is, and checks that angioplasty is a suitable option.
- Examination and ankle blood pressure measurement.
- Doppler ultrasound.
- CT angiography when needed.
- Blood tests including kidney function, and a review of your medicines, especially blood thinners and diabetes medicines.
Treatment options and where angioplasty fits
Angioplasty sits between medical treatment and open surgery:
Your doctor will explain why an option is chosen for you, its benefits and possible risks such as bleeding or bruising at the puncture site or the artery narrowing again. For the underlying condition, see leg artery blockage treatment.
- Lifestyle changes, regular walking and stopping smoking.
- Medicines prescribed by your doctor to control risk factors.
- Balloon angioplasty: a balloon is inflated inside the narrowing to widen it.
- Arterial stenting: a small mesh tube left in the artery when needed.
- Open bypass surgery when the shape or length of the blockage does not suit angioplasty.
The day of the procedure and after
Angioplasty is usually done under local anaesthetic. A thin tube is passed through a puncture in the groin or arm and guided to the artery using X-rays and contrast dye.
- Lying flat for a while afterwards, with pressure on the puncture site to prevent bleeding.
- Some patients go home the same day and others stay longer; your doctor will explain what suits your case.
- Avoiding heavy effort for a period set by your doctor.
- Taking the medicines prescribed after the procedure.
- Attending your follow-up appointments.
When to book an appointment
Book an appointment to discuss your options if:
- Leg pain when walking continues despite treatment.
- You have foot pain at rest or a wound that is not healing.
- Another doctor has found narrowed arteries and you would like an assessment.