Vascular & Endovascular
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Intervention
PAD intervention restores blood flow to legs narrowed by plaque, using balloons, stents, or laser atherectomy through a tiny puncture. It relieves leg pain, heals wounds, and helps prevent amputation , all as an outpatient procedure.
AVERAGE PROCEDURE TIME
60 to 120 minutes
Anesthesia
Sedation with local
Recovery
Same day, 3 to 5 hours
Ride home
Required if you receive sedation
Overview
Peripheral artery disease narrows the arteries carrying blood to your legs, causing cramping with walking, cold feet, and wounds that will not heal. Intervention restores that flow through a puncture no larger than a pen tip.
Depending on the blockage, treatment may combine balloon angioplasty, atherectomy to remove plaque, drug-coated balloons, or a stent.
Is this right for me?
Candidacy is confirmed after a review of your history, imaging, and medications. Patients we most often treat include those with:
- Leg or calf cramping that appears with walking and eases with rest
- Non-healing foot or leg wounds
- Rest pain in the foot, especially at night
- Abnormal ankle-brachial index or duplex ultrasound
What to expect, step by step
Arrival and preparation
You check in with a coordinator, change into a gown, and meet your nurse. Vitals are taken, an IV is started if needed, and your care team reviews the plan and answers questions with your caregiver present.
Angiogram
Contrast is injected to map the arteries from the pelvis to the foot and identify every significant blockage.
Restoring flow
Balloons, atherectomy devices, or stents are used to reopen the vessel. Final imaging confirms improved runoff to the foot.
Recovery suite
You rest in a private recovery bay while your nurse monitors vitals and comfort. Written instructions are reviewed with you and your caregiver before discharge.
Home the same day
A caregiver drives you home. A member of our team calls the next business day to check on you and confirm your follow-up appointment.
Recovery
Walk the same evening as tolerated and keep the puncture site dry for 24 hours.
A supervised walking plan and risk-factor management protect your result long term.
Risks and what we watch for
Every procedure carries risk. These are the ones we discuss most often for this procedure.
- Bleeding, bruising, or soreness at the access site or incision
- Infection, which is why sterile technique and, when indicated, antibiotics are used
- Reaction to sedation, anesthesia, or contrast dye, monitored continuously by your anesthesia provider
- Incomplete relief of symptoms, or symptoms that return over time
- The need for additional treatment, imaging, or a different procedure
- Rarely, a complication serious enough to require a higher level of care than an outpatient setting provides
We review these with you in detail before you consent, and you can change your mind at any point.
Coverage note
We verify your benefits and give you a written estimate before scheduling.
Prepare for this procedure
- Before your surgery
- The day of your procedure
- Anesthesia and sedation
- Recovery at home and when to call
Frequently asked questions
Will my leg pain improve right away?
Many patients notice warmer feet and easier walking within days, with continued improvement over several weeks.
Can blockages come back?
They can. Follow-up ultrasound surveillance catches restenosis early, when it is simple to treat.
Is PAD intervention done as an outpatient procedure?
Yes. It is performed at our ACHC-accredited ambulatory surgery center in The Woodlands, minutes from Tomball and Spring, and patients go home the same day with a caregiver.
Will my insurance cover it?
Coverage depends on your specific plan and benefits. Our team verifies your benefits and gives you a written estimate before anything is scheduled.
Do you offer Spanish-speaking support?
Yes. Bilingual English and Spanish coordination is available from your first call through recovery instructions and follow-up.
