THE CENTER FOR VASCULAR CARE AT WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER Diagnosing and Treating Vascular Disease

If you have symptoms of vascular disease or Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), the best thing to do is see your physician for examination and possible testing. And, if you have the following risk factors, see your doctor to determine if you should be tested. The Center for Vascular Care at Washington Hospital Center can provide painless, risk free tests and the most complete array of treatment options for vascular disease in the region.

RISK FACTORS TESTING FOR VASCULAR DISEASE FOR VASCULAR DISEASE Ankle-brachial Index: Patients with leg I Cigarette smoking artery blockage are at increased risk of I Older than age 50* heart attack and stroke. This test (ABI) is I Obesity a simple, safe, painless test for blockages. A blood pressure cuff is placed above I Diabetes the ankles and pressures are measured I Heart disease compared to arm pressures to determine I High Cholesterol the risk of cardiovascular events. It takes I High-stress lifestyle 5–10 minutes. I High blood pressure Carotid Duplex Scan: Blockage in a major I Family history of aneurysms artery increases the likelihood of a stroke. *Over age 65 if no other risk factors exist Thickening of the walls of the carotid arteries can lead to heart attack. An arterial SYMPTOMS OF VASCULAR DISEASE duplex scan is a safe, painless, highly I Leg pain that goes away with rest accu rate method of determining blockage. A sound wave device, placed lightly on the I Numbness of the legs or feet at rest skin, can tell if there is a problem. It takes I Impotence in men 15 –20 minutes. I Cold legs or feet Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound: I Muscle pain in the thighs, calves, Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a weak - or feet ening, bulging or ballooning of the major I Loss of hair on the legs and/or feet artery in the abdomen, is the ninth most I Change of color of the legs common cause of death in the U.S. Patients may not know they have an AAA, and often the first symptom is rupture. Ultrasound is a safe, reliable method of determining the presence of an AAA. The ultrasound device is placed lightly over the skin of the abdomen and measurements are made. It takes 20–25 minutes, and requires fasting. TREATMENT OF VASCULAR DISEASE framework called a stent in the artery to help keep it open. This is the same proce - Medications dure doctors use to open heart arteries. Cholesterol-lowering medications. Patients Atherectomy. A specialized catheter is may take a cholesterol-lowering drug inserted inside of a blood vessel and called a statin to reduce the risk factor for removes plaque buildup, clearing the way heart attack and stroke. for increased blood supply. High blood pressure medications. Lasers. The doctor uses small devices or Persons with high blood pressure may lasers to remove plaque from the sides of be prescribed medications such as beta the blood vessels. blockers or ACE inhibitors. Thrombolytic (Clot busting) therapy. If Medication to control blood sugar. It there is a blood clot blocking an artery, the becomes even more important to control doctor may inject a clot-dissolving drug blood sugar (glucose) levels in diabetics. into the artery at the point of the clot to Medications to prevent blood clots. break it up. Because peripheral artery disease is related Endovascular Abdominal Aortic to reduced blood flow to the limbs, it’s Aneurysm Repair (EVAR), This is a mini - important to reduce the risk of blood clots. mally invasive procedure to repair enlarged A doctor may prescribe daily aspirin arteries in the abdomen. therapy or another medication that helps prevent blood clots. Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR). This is a minimally invasive pro - Symptom-relief medications. Some cedure to repair enlarged arteries in the drugs increase blood flow to the limbs by chest or thorax. preventing blood clots and widening the blood vessels. Bypass surgery. The doctor may create a graft bypass, using a vessel from another Procedures part of the body or a blood vessel made of Angioplasty, atherectomy, stenting and synthetic fabric. This technique allows surgery. In some cases, angioplasty or blood to flow around—or bypass—the surgery may be necessary to treat blood blocked or narrowed artery. flow problems caused by peripheral artery disease. WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER is the largest, most experienced diagnostic and Angioplasty. In this procedure, a small treatment center for vascular problems in hollow tube (catheter) is threaded through the Washington region. Our vascular lab is a blood vessel to the affected artery. There, accredited by the Intersocietal Commission a small balloon on its tip is inflated to for the Accreditation of Vascular Labora - reopen the artery and flatten the blockage to ries (ICAVL), and our staff members are into the artery wall, while at the same time Registered Vascular Technologists, ensuring stretching the artery open to increase blood the highest quality of care. Our surgeons are flow. The doctor may also insert a mesh some of the most experienced in the area.

To schedule and appointment for testing or to find one of our experienced vascular surgeons, call 202-877-DOCS or visit www.whcenter.org/DOC tors Line . www.whcenter.org