Restore blood flow. Relieve limb pain. No open surgery.

In most cases, yes. The 2016 ACC/AHA guidelines on peripheral arterial disease and TASC II recommendations support an endovascular-first approach for many lesions — meaning angioplasty, stenting, or atherectomy can often restore blood flow without open surgery. Bypass is reserved for cases where endovascular treatment is not anatomically feasible or has failed.

Bypass surgery requires major incisions, general anesthesia, and 1–2 weeks of inpatient recovery with weeks more rehab. Endovascular procedures work through a small catheter access — typically same-day discharge, normal walking within hours, and dramatically lower complication rates.

For patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (rest pain, non-healing wounds, gangrene), restoring blood flow is the primary goal — and endovascular revascularization has become a frontline approach with strong limb-salvage outcomes when performed promptly. Time matters: don't wait.

No. Most endovascular PAD procedures are performed under light sedation with local anesthetic at the access site (typically the wrist or groin). You're comfortable throughout. Most patients describe the experience as easier than expected.

Common signs include leg pain or cramping with walking that improves with rest (claudication), persistent foot pain at rest, non-healing wounds on the feet or legs, coldness or color change in a foot, and weak or absent pulses. Diabetes, smoking, and family history significantly raise risk. Simple non-invasive testing (ABI, duplex ultrasound) confirms the diagnosis.

This is exactly the type of case where endovascular treatment can make the difference between healing and amputation. Restoring blood flow allows wounds to heal and dramatically lowers amputation risk. Many of our PAD patients are referred specifically to avoid amputation.

Yes. PAD treatment is covered by Medicare and all major commercial insurers as medically necessary when clinical criteria are met. We coordinate with your referring physician and verify benefits before scheduling.

Same-day discharge in most cases. You'll be asked to walk regularly, take prescribed medications (typically antiplatelet and statin therapy), manage risk factors (smoking cessation if applicable, diabetes control), and follow up at scheduled intervals. Many patients notice immediate improvement in walking distance.