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Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Approximately 10 to 12 million Americans live with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Because many individuals experience no symptoms, estimates range as high as 20 million. It is particularly prevalent in adults over 40, affecting roughly 1 in 20 Americans over the age of 50 Although peripheral artery disease is common, when left untreated it increases your risk of serious health problems. At Memphis Vein Center in Memphis, Tennessee, board-certified cardiologist Kishore Arcot, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FSVM, RPVI, and the caring team offer safe and effective treatments for peripheral artery disease. To schedule an appointment, call or book online today.

What is Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral Artery Disease occurs when plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and calcium) accumulates along the walls of the arteries that supply blood to your limbs—most commonly your legs. This process, known as atherosclerosis, progressively narrows the arteries and restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your muscles and tissues.

If left untreated, PAD can severely limit your ability to walk, lead to chronic, non-healing skin ulcers, and drastically increase your risk of heart attacks, stroke, or limb amputation.

Recognizing the Symptoms of PAD

In its early stages, PAD may cause mild or no symptoms at all. However, as the blockages worsen, you may experience:

  • Claudication: Painful cramping, tightness, heavy aching, or muscle fatigue in your calves, thighs, or buttocks that is triggered by walking or climbing stairs and resolves after a few minutes of rest.
  • Leg Numbness or Weakness: A feeling that your legs cannot support you properly.
  • Temperature Discrepancies: One leg or foot feeling noticeably colder than the other.
  • Skin & Nail Changes: Shiny skin on your legs, loss of leg hair, or slow-growing, brittle toenails.
  • Weak Pulse: A faint or completely absent pulse in your feet or legs.
  • Advanced PAD Symptoms: Severe pain in your toes or feet even while resting (rest pain), or non-healing sores and open wounds on your lower extremities.

Advanced Wound Prevention & Limb Salvage

When PAD becomes severe, the lack of blood flow prevents minor cuts or scrapes on your feet from healing. This can lead to dangerous, painful arterial ulcers and tissue death (gangrene).

Dr. Arcot is highly recognized for his clinical expertise in advanced limb salvage and amputation prevention. If you or a loved one has diabetes or advanced PAD and has been told by another provider that a foot or leg amputation is your only option, we strongly encourage you to seek a second opinion at our center. Dr. Arcot specializes in aggressive, internal arterial reconstruction designed to restore blood flow, heal chronic wounds, and save your limbs.

Comprehensive In-Office PAD Diagnostics

Getting an accurate assessment of your arterial blood flow is quick, painless, and performed right here in our office:

  • Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): A quick, non-invasive test that compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm to check for a drop in circulation.
  • Arterial Ultrasound (Duplex): Uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize the structure of your arteries, map out exactly where plaque buildup is located, and measure the velocity of blood flow.

State-of-the-Art PAD Treatments

At Memphis Vein Center, our priority is to treat PAD using the most appropriate conservative methods first. This includes structured walking programs, smoking cessation counseling, and evidence-based medications to lower cholesterol, control blood pressure, and prevent blood clots.

When arterial blockages are severe or conservative methods do not provide enough relief, Dr. Arcot excels at performing minimally invasive endovascular procedures:

  • Angioplasty: A tiny catheter with a balloon tip is guided directly inside the blocked artery and inflated to push the plaque against the artery walls, instantly widening the path for blood flow.
  • Stenting: A small, mesh metal tube (stent) is permanently placed inside the artery to keep it propped open.
  • Atherectomy: Advanced devices are used inside the blood vessel to gently shave away or vaporize hardened plaque.

The Benefits of Our Outpatient Approach:

Because these procedures are performed entirely from inside the blood vessels through a microscopic entry point, patients enjoy:

  • No hospital stays (outpatient care)
  • Minimal to no discomfort
  • An exceptionally fast recovery, allowing you to walk out the same day

We have been serving patients in the Memphis community for the past 20+ years with the highest patient satisfaction.

Don’t let leg pain steal your independence. Contact Memphis Vein Center today to schedule your comprehensive PAD evaluation and vascular ultrasound with Dr. Arcot, or request an appointment online.