You can usually control peripheral artery disease of the legs without surgery. Surgery provides good symptom relief in severe cases.

For complications, the affected leg or foot may need to be amputated.

• Blood clots or emboli that block off small arteries
• Coronary artery disease
• Impotence
• Open sores (ischemic ulcers) on the lower legs
• Tissue death (gangrene) -- see gas gangrene

Call your health care provider if you have:

• A leg or foot that becomes cool to the touch, pale, blue, or numb
• Chest pain or shortness of breath with leg pain
• Leg pain that does not go away, even when you are not walking or moving (called rest pain)
• Legs that are red, hot, or swollen
• New sores/ulcers
• Signs of infection (fever, redness, general ill feeling)
• Symptoms of arteriosclerosis of the extremities

Images

Arteriosclerosis of the extremities

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Review Date: 06/17/2010
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)