Vascular Medicine Conference-CVC 2026

Endovascular therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) involves minimally invasive, catheter-based interventions designed to restore blood flow in arteries narrowed or obstructed by atherosclerotic plaque. PAD primarily affects the arteries of the lower extremities, where buildup of fatty deposits leads to symptoms such as pain, intermittent claudication, and, in more severe cases, chronic wounds or critical limb ischemia.

Typical endovascular procedures include balloon angioplasty, where an inflatable device is used to dilate the affected artery, as well as stenting, in which a mesh scaffold is deployed to maintain vessel patency. In certain cases, atherectomy devices are employed to physically remove plaque from the arterial wall. These interventions are generally performed through percutaneous access, usually under local anesthesia, enabling shorter recovery times and reduced hospitalization compared to open surgical revascularization.

The benefits of endovascular therapy include significant relief of ischemic pain, enhanced walking distance, improved wound healing, and a reduced risk of limb amputation in advanced PAD. Nevertheless, the long-term success of these procedures relies heavily on aggressive management of modifiable risk factors—such as smoking cessation, glycemic control in diabetes, and optimization of lipid and blood pressure levels. With appropriate follow-up and comprehensive risk factor modification, endovascular therapy can substantially improve health outcomes and quality of life in individuals affected by PAD.