Home PAD
ConditionPeripheral Artery Disease in Jacksonville
PAD means plaque has narrowed the arteries that carry blood to your legs and feet. It is common, it is often missed, and FCCI's board-certified cardiologists test and treat it in Jacksonville.
What PAD is, in plain words
Your arteries carry blood rich in oxygen from your heart to the rest of your body. In peripheral artery disease (PAD), plaque builds up inside the arteries of the legs and narrows them. Less blood gets through, so your leg muscles and the skin of your feet get less oxygen than they need.
FCCI's vascular lab notes that the same plaque buildup is a contributing factor to both PAD and coronary heart disease. That is why a heart and vascular practice is a natural home for PAD care: the team looks at your legs and your heart together.
Many people blame leg trouble on age or arthritis and never get checked. A simple, painless ultrasound can show what is really going on.
Signs FCCI looks for
The FCCI vascular lab lists these symptoms as reasons a doctor may order a peripheral arterial test:
- Muscle cramps in the legs
- Leg pain, especially when walking
- Fatigue with walking
- Foot wounds that will not heal
- Gangrene (dark, dying tissue)
- Cooler temperature in the lower legs or feet
When it comes to leg artery blockages, the testing is gentle: ultrasound and blood pressure cuffs only, with no needles, contrast dye or radiation. A carotid duplex runs about 30 minutes and a peripheral arterial duplex about two hours. If your test calls for skipping food, drinks, tobacco and caffeine for seven hours, the office will let you know.
Before a visit about leg artery blockages, jot down what you have noticed, when it began and what eases or worsens it. Pack your medicine list (vitamins and supplements count), your insurance card and a photo ID.
How PAD is found
FCCI's accredited Non-Invasive Vascular Lab is the only lab in Jacksonville solely dedicated to vascular testing. Two tests matter most for PAD. A peripheral arterial duplex scan uses ultrasound to find narrow or blocked arteries; it usually takes about 2 hours and you avoid food, drinks, tobacco and caffeine for 7 hours before. A lower extremity physiologic study checks whether PAD is present and which vessels are affected.
No needles, no dye and no radiation are used for these ultrasound tests. Your doctor reviews the results with you and builds a personalized plan.
If a procedure is part of treating leg artery blockages, it is usually done through a tiny opening in the wrist or groin. Expect 1 to 3 hours in the lab and 1 to 5 hours resting in a private room. FCCI's cath lab team treats amputation as the very last resort.
How PAD is treated at FCCI
Treatment depends on how severe your blockages are. Many people start with lifestyle changes and medicine. When blood flow needs to be restored, FCCI's outpatient catheterization lab offers peripheral angiography to see the leg arteries and peripheral revascularization using atherectomy devices, balloons and/or stents.
FCCI also uses Shockwave Medical's lithotripsy system for calcified leg artery blockages. In 2018 Dr. Yazan Khatib was the first physician in Northeast Florida to offer this IntraVascular Lithotripsy (IVL) treatment for PAD. Most procedures need only a tiny incision in the wrist or groin.
Care for leg artery blockages can happen outside a hospital. FCCI was the first in the region to offer outpatient catheterization, which it says can lower out-of-pocket costs and make treatment more comfortable. Its Jacksonville lab opened in 2007, Palatka followed in 2016, and both carry accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
Is PAD serious?
It can be. PAD reduces blood flow to your legs and feet, and severe cases can lead to wounds that will not heal. The same plaque often affects the heart. Getting checked early gives you more options.
Do I need surgery for PAD?
Not always. Many people are treated with lifestyle changes and medicine. When blood flow must be restored, FCCI often uses minimally invasive catheter procedures through a tiny incision. Your doctor will explain your options.
How do I get tested for PAD in Jacksonville?
Call 904.493.3333. Your FCCI doctor can order a peripheral arterial duplex scan or a lower extremity physiologic study at the accredited vascular lab.
Does insurance cover PAD testing?
FCCI accepts most major plans, including Medicare. Call 904.493.3333 to check your specific plan.