The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | April 2017
Ask the Physician
I’ ve started feeling a lot of pain and cramps in my legs at times— especially when I’ m running. My doctor said it could be bad circulation— I’ ve never heard of this and find it unnerving! How can I get it checked? Tommy N., Trenton, NJ
Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, affects millions of people each year. It is caused by the arteries in the legs narrowing or getting blocked by plaque build-up. Left untreated, it can be life-threatening! I would strongly recommend you make an appointment with one of our vascular specialists for an evaluation.
If we determine you need treatment, we have minimally-invasive state-of-the-art options to open blockages, using catheters guided inside the leg arteries.
One of our newest devices is a drug-coated balloon which, when inflated, pushes the plaque away to create a channel for blood flow. The medication on the balloon is then absorbed into the artery wall. When the balloon is removed, blood flow is restored in the open vessel and the medication left behind continues to keep the artery open longer than other therapies. Another technology includes a catheter with a mini-camera at its tip, which enables us to actually see any plaque and safely remove it!
When you come to Deborah, we will evaluate your situation and, if treatment is needed, determine which of our state-of-the-art interventions is the right one for you— just contact us today.
Matt Samra, D. O., FACOS Attending Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon Director, Vein Center
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