I have been having pain in my left calf when I walk. My doctor told me I have a blockage in my leg artery, and said he can put a stent in the blockage. I heard that this comes back after a stent, so should I do this procedure?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is blockages in the arteries outside of the heart, including the carotid arteries in the neck which cause stroke, aneursyms of the aorta, and blockages in the arteries in the legs. Smoking is a common risk factor for PAD. Treatment of PAD has improved over time, and some people are treated with stents in the legs to improve severe symptoms, and to prevent amputations. This disease is also very common in diabetics. The new “drug coated” stents have a special coating on the metal that helps prevent renarrowing, called restenosis. With these newer stents you can have a good chance of a long term success. So, if your doctor recommends it, you should not be reluctant.
To learn more about leg artery stents, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
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