Vascular Testing: An Important Step in Preventing Amputation in Diabetics and Others with Poor Circulation

Adequate circulation to the lower legs and feet is a key factor in avoiding amputations to these areas. Current medical research shows that non-invasive vascular testing greatly increases the accuracy of diagnosing early arterial disease (a.k.a. peripheral vascular disease or PVD).

In the past, early arterial disease was detected simply by “feeling” the pulses of the arteries to the feet and legs. Studies show that up to 1/3 of patients with early arterial disease have no signs or symptoms of the disease on physical examination.

Doppler ultrasound technology allows physicians to more accurately assess the circulation to the feet and legs. This technology allows the physician to hear the arteries, as well as provides a graphical interpretation of the function of the individual arteries. Diseased arteries sound different, and the graphic wave forms are different than in healthy arteries. Doppler examination of the arteries to the feet and legs is fast, accurate, pain free, and can be performed in the physician’s office.

Signs of poor circulation to the feet & legs include: cold feet and toes, cramping to the feet and legs when walking, pain to the top of the feet at night, thin and shiny skin to the feet and legs, deformed toenails, loss of hair to the toes, and slow healing of minor wounds to the feet and legs.

Risk factors for PVD include: diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and advanced age. Early detection of PVD is the key to avoiding complications such as non-healing wounds, infection, and amputations of the feet and legs.