Peripheral artery disease
“I want to walk without pain.”
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a narrowing of the arteries to the legs. It can make walking painful, cause pain at rest, and threaten the limb. PAD is often treated conservatively first. When it isn’t enough, we restore blood flow with the latest minimally invasive technology, or with surgery when that will last longer.
What we treat
- Leg pain when walking
- Pain in your feet and toes when at rest
- Blockages of the arteries of your belly or legs
How we help
- Ultrasound to evaluate your blockages
- Exercise and medical therapy
- Angioplasty, stenting, and atherectomy
- Open bypass surgery
- Lifelong surveillance
We tailor every revascularization plan to the patient. Sometimes that means a limb-saving bypass surgery, rather than angiogram after angiogram.
The latest technology for PAD
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Intravascular lithotripsy (Shockwave)
Sound waves crack hard calcium in the artery wall so it can be opened safely.
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Laser atherectomy
A laser catheter breaks down plaque and scar tissue that block the artery.
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Drug-eluting stents
Stents coated with medicine that helps keep the artery from narrowing again.
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Spur stent (Reflow)
Tiny spikes open pathways in plaque below the knee so medicine can reach the artery wall. Nothing is left behind.
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Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
A tiny ultrasound probe inside the artery measures it precisely, so we choose the right balloon or stent.
Common questions
What causes leg pain when walking?
Leg pain that starts when you walk and eases when you rest is often caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD). Plaque narrows the leg arteries, so your muscles can’t get enough blood when they work. This pain is called claudication. Arthritis, spine problems, and nerve problems can feel similar, so an exam and ultrasound help find the cause.
Who is at risk for PAD?
PAD is more common in people who smoke or used to smoke, and in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or who have kidney disease. Risk also rises with age and with a family history of arterial disease.
How is PAD diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with your symptoms, an exam, and a check of the pulses in your legs and feet. An ankle-brachial index compares the blood pressure at your ankle and arm. An ultrasound shows where blood flow is narrowed or blocked. Both tests are painless and don’t use radiation.
Does PAD always need a procedure?
No. Many people improve with a walking program, quitting smoking, and medications. A procedure may help if leg pain still limits your daily life after trying your best with non-operative management. It is usually needed sooner if you have pain when at rest or if you have a wound that won’t heal.
Is a stent or bypass surgery better for PAD?
It depends on where the blockage is, how long it is, and your overall health. Angioplasty and stenting use small punctures and usually mean a quicker recovery, but some arteries narrow again. Bypass is a bigger operation that can last longer for the right patient.
When is leg pain an emergency?
Call 911 if your leg suddenly becomes cold, pale, numb, weak, or very painful. This can mean a sudden blockage, and fast treatment can save the leg. Call us soon if you have pain at rest, or a sore on your foot or leg that won’t heal.
Medical content reviewed by Xuan-Binh (Ben) Pham, M.D., vascular surgeon. Last reviewed November 2026.
Talk with a vascular surgeon
Call our office, or send a request and we’ll call you back to schedule.
Other conditions we treat
- Varicose veins & venous disease“I want to get rid of my painful varicose veins.”
- Carotid disease & stroke prevention“I want to lower my risk of having a stroke.”
- Aortic aneurysm & dissection“I need an expert aortic surgeon.”
- Dialysis access“I need help with my journey through dialysis.”
- Wound care & limb salvage“I have a wound that won’t heal.”
- Thoracic outlet syndrome“I have numbness and pain and tingling in my shoulders and arms.”
- Kidney, intestinal & other arteriesLess common problems, including those seen in athletes