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UCLA Interventional Radiology

UCLA Interventional Radiology

UCLA Interventional Radiology
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  • About Us
  • Conditions Treated
    • Ascites
    • Aneurysm and Dissection
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
    • Biliary Leak
    • Biliary Obstruction
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • Encephalopathy
    • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
    • Gastrointestinal Ischemia
    • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
    • Liver Cancer
    • Liver Cancer (Metastatic)
    • Malnutrition
    • Obstruction
    • Osteoarthritis of the Knee
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease
    • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
    • Portal Hypertension
    • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
    • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
    • Uterine Fibroids
    • Variceal Bleeding
    • Varicocele
    • Varicose/Spider Veins
    • Venous and Lymphatic Malformations
    • Vertebral Fracture
    • Ascites
    • Aneurysm and Dissection
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
    • Biliary Leak
    • Biliary Obstruction
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • Encephalopathy
    • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
    • Gastrointestinal Ischemia
    • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
    • Liver Cancer
    • Liver Cancer (Metastatic)
    • Malnutrition
    • Obstruction
    • Osteoarthritis of the Knee
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease
    • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
    • Portal Hypertension
    • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
    • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
    • Uterine Fibroids
    • Variceal Bleeding
    • Varicocele
    • Venous and Lymphatic Malformations
    • Vertebral Fracture
  • Treatments & Procedures
    • Angiography
    • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
    • Arterial Thrombolysis
    • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
    • Biliary Drainage
    • Biopsy, Percutaneous
    • Chemoembolization
    • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
    • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
    • Drainage, Percutaneous
    • Embolization
    • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
    • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
    • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
    • Lung Biopsy
    • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
    • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
    • Radioembolization (Y90)
    • Stent Graft Placement
    • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
    • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
    • Tumor Ablation
    • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
    • Varicocele Embolization
    • Varicose Vein Treatment
    • Vascular Access Procedures
    • Venous Thrombolysis and Recanalization
    • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
    • Angiography
    • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
    • Arterial Thrombolysis
    • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
    • Biliary Drainage
    • Biopsy Percutaneous
    • Chemoembolization
    • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
    • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
    • Drainage Percutaneous
    • Embolization
    • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
    • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
    • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
    • Lung Biopsy
    • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
    • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
    • Radioembolization (Y90)
    • Stent Graft Placement
    • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
    • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
    • Tumor Ablation
    • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
    • Varicocele Embolization
    • Vascular Access Procedures
    • Venous thrombolysis and recanalization
    • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
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UCLA Interventional Radiology

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

  • Ascites
  • Aneurysm and Dissection
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Biliary Leak
  • Biliary Obstruction
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Encephalopathy
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
  • Gastrointestinal Ischemia
  • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
  • Liver Cancer
  • Liver Cancer (Metastatic)
  • Malnutrition
  • Obstruction
  • Osteoarthritis of the Knee
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
  • Portal Hypertension
  • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Variceal Bleeding
  • Varicocele
  • Venous and Lymphatic Malformations
  • Vertebral Fracture
  • Ascites
  • Aneurysm and Dissection
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Biliary Leak
  • Biliary Obstruction
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Encephalopathy
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
  • Gastrointestinal Ischemia
  • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
  • Liver Cancer
  • Liver Cancer (Metastatic)
  • Malnutrition
  • Obstruction
  • Osteoarthritis of the Knee
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
  • Portal Hypertension
  • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Variceal Bleeding
  • Varicocele
  • Venous and Lymphatic Malformations
  • Vertebral Fracture
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  2. UCLA Interventional Radiology
  3. Conditions Treated
  4. Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease

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What is peripheral arterial disease?

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or peripheral vascular disease (PVD) occurs when there is a blockage in the blood vessels that significantly decreases blood flow to the limbs, usually the legs. The blockage can be caused by inflammation or a clot, but it is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, which is a condition of hardened and narrowed arteries caused by fatty deposits called plaques. Atherosclerosis is typically a condition that affects blood vessels throughout the body, and places the patient at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Decreased blood flow decreases the amount of oxygen available to the tissues, which can lead to pain, non-healing ulcers and infections in the limbs and ultimately tissue death called gangrene. If untreated, the affected limb may need to be amputated.

Risk Factors

  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Increasing age
  • Family history of vascular disease, including heart attack or stroke
  • Inactive lifestyle
  • Obesity
  • Hypertension
  • High cholesterol
  • High LDL and low HDL

Symptoms

  • Claudication, or painful leg cramps that occur when walking
  • Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in feet or legs
  • Sores or wounds on feet or legs that do not heal
  • Cold feet or legs
  • Blue or pale feet or legs
  • Weak or no pulse in feet or legs
  • Slow hair and toenail growth

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider may note the above symptoms during a physical exam. Additional tests that can be performed include:

  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI), comparing the blood pressure in the legs to the arms
  • Doppler ultrasound
  • Angiography (X-ray with contrast agent to visualize blood vessels)
  • Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
  • Computed tomographic angiography (CTA)

Because PAD is commonly caused by atherosclerosis, blood tests may also be performed to check cholesterol and lipid levels.

Treatments

  • Angiography
  • Balloon angioplasty
  • Stents and stent-grafts

For More Information:

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our IR physicians, please call 310-481-7545.

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