What is the purpose of stenting a leg artery?
The purpose of leg artery stenting is to re-establish good blood flow to the limb in order to relieve symptoms and promote good wound healing. What happens during the stenting of a leg artery? Prior to performing stenting, the location and type of blockage plus the shape and size of the leg arteries have to be defined. This helps the cardiologist decide whether it is appropriate to proceed with stenting or to consider other treatment options such medications or surgery. Peripheral angiography is a specialized study of the limb arteries during which a catheter (a thin, hollow, flexible tube) is inserted into the artery of the groin or arm. Under x-ray visualization, the tip of the catheter is guided to the leg. X-ray pictures, an angiogram (or “angio” for short), of the leg arteries are obtained while an iodine- containing colorless “dye” or contrast material is injected into the artery through a catheter. If the cardiologist decides to proceed with stenting, a thin flexible wire called
