Harry Cotler, D.P.M.

Affiliated Foot & Ankle Care
35670 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 102
Soldotna, AK  99669
(907) 260-3668 (Foot)

 footdoc@alaska.net

VASCULAR TESTING

Peripheral arterial disease is a very common condition.  The diagnosis occurs in up to 22% of patients depending on the population you choose, the risk factors, and the diagnostic techniques used.  Within the group of patients with peripheral arterial disease, the ratio of those who have symptoms to those who are asymptomatic is anywhere from 1:1 to 1:6.  In other words, a patient may have peripheral arterial disease and may not know it.   

How patients present with peripheral arterial disease is variable.  In general, the majority will either present without symptoms, so you will need to identify them on physical exam or ultrasound test, or will have stable claudication which will be described below.  A very small minority of patients will actually present with either chronic limb ischemia or arterial ischemia.  

The risk factors for atherosclerosis are crucial both from the standpoint of understanding which patients are more likely to have atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease, and also on the treatment of those risk factors.