Why is an early diagnosis of PAD critical?
Because peripheral arterial disease is the leading cause of amputation among Americans, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery. Severe cases of PAD lead to more than 120,000 leg amputations annually. PAD is the leading cause of amputation in people ages 50 and older, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery, and PAD accounts for up to 90 percent of all amputations performed each year.
UVa treats more than 500 PAD cases annually, says Alan Matsumoto, M.D., an interventional radiologist and professor of radiology at UVa, drawing patients from across the state and region. "We often see patients who are told they have no option other than amputation, but we can usually find another treatment that preserves their limb."