Ernane D. Reis, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Osvaldo J. Yano, MD, Attending Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon, Saint Francis Hospital, Roslyn, NY.
Introduction
Peripheral vascular [arterial] disease (PVD) of the lower extremities is a result of generalized atherosclerosis, and has the same risk factors as do stroke and myocardial infarction.1 PVD is associated with increased mortality even in asymptomatic patients,2 and is an important cause of complications and death after successful coronary revascularization.3,4 Twenty-five percent of patients with limb-threatening ischemia die within one year of diagnosis.2 In patients older than 60 years, the prevalence of clinically detectable PVD is approximately 15%, and claudication occurs in up to 5%.2 PVD also reduces ambulatory capacity and quality of life and, therefore, represents an enormous human and financial burden to individual patients and society.5
During the last decade, management of arterial disease of the lower extremities has undergone remarkable changes. A true medical revolution is ongoing, as a consequence of the successful introduction of new technologies that can be used alone or in conjunction with established surgical and radiological methods.
