Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or peripheral vascular disease (PVD) occurs when there is a blockage in the blood vessels that significantly decreases blood flow to the limbs, usually the legs. The blockage can be caused by inflammation or a clot, but it is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, which is a condition of hardened and narrowed arteries caused by fatty deposits called plaques. Atherosclerosis is typically a condition that affects blood vessels throughout the body, and places the patient at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
Decreased blood flow decreases the amount of oxygen available to the tissues, which can lead to pain, non-healing ulcers and infections in the limbs and ultimately tissue death called gangrene. If untreated, the affected limb may need to be amputated.
