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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