Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Treatments

Our interventional radiologists provide expert care for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with angioplasty and stenting treatments.

Declot Procedures

A blood clot is a mass of blood that forms when platelets, proteins and cells in the blood stick together. In some situations, your doctor may recommend a procedure to declot or break up a blood clot. 

During this minimally invasive procedure, your doctor uses a catheter (long, thin tube) with a tool attached to mechanically break up the clot and deliver medication directly to the clot to break it up. The catheter is inserted through a small incision (cut) and guided to the clot. After the declot procedure, your interventional radiologist may perform an angioplasty or stenting treatment and will then remove the catheter.

Angioplasty 

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure. Your interventional radiologist will insert a catheter with a small balloon attached into a small cut above an artery in your arm or leg. The catheter will be threaded through the artery to the area affected by PAD.

The balloon will be inflated and deflated several times to widen the vessel and treat the blockage. The balloon is then removed. Typically, this procedure takes an hour.

Stenting 

During the angioplasty procedure, your doctor may also perform a procedure called “stenting.” A stent is a mesh metal tube that supports the vessel for healthy blood flow. When treating PAD with angioplasty and stenting, your doctor will insert the stent after performing the angioplasty. The stent will remain in place after the procedure.

Limb Salvage and Wound Care

The Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Interventional Radiology is nationally renowned for limb salvage and wound care with minimally invasive procedures that improve our patients’ health and quality of life.

Severe wounds, injuries or conditions can cause poor blood flow to limbs, causing them to weaken or become unhealthy. At Weill Cornell Medicine, our highly trained and compassionate interventional radiologists are here to help promote functional health with minimally invasive treatment options.

Interventional radiology procedures are highly effective options for improving the functional health of limbs, as well as promoting healthy recovery for wounds.

All procedures focus on restoring blood flow, reducing swelling — and preventing amputation (removal of a limb).