Artery Treatments by Vascular Surgeon, John Golan for:

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Arteries carry blood rich in oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body.  When arteries become blocked, the legs do not receive enough blood or oxygen.  This condition is known as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) often causes pain and discomfort with walking. One in 3 people age 70 or older has PAD. Smoking or having diabetes increases your chances of developing this disease before age 70.

Dr. Golan, a specialist in both arterial and vein procedures for 25 years, treats PAD, in various ways depending on the nature of the Peripheral Arterial Disease:

In some cases, PAD can be managed with medication and regular walking exercise.  In more severe cases, surgical treatment may be necessary.  Bypass surgery creates a detour around a narrowed or blocked artery, allowing blood to flow to the extremity.

In other cases, Dr. Golan may recommend angioplasty and stenting of the artery.  During an angioplasty, a long thin catheter is inserted into the blockage. Once in place a special balloon is inflated which pushes the plaque in the artery against the artery walls widening the vessel.  In some circumstances, a stent (a flexible tube) may be inserted to keep the artery open.

PAD can also be treated with an atherectomy. New endovascular technology enables Dr. Golan to actually remove the plaque from the artery to create a larger channel.

To find out more information about Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) please visit VascularWeb.org.

Dr. Golan also treats arterial conditions such as Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), and Carotid Artery Disease (CAD) and Dialysis Access.