Revisión de cirugía vascular periférica

The term peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is considered a general term that encompasses a series of non-coronary arterial syndromes caused by alterations in the structure and function of the aorta and peripheral arteries, mainly due to atherosclerosis, although there are other physiopathological processes such as smoking, diabetes, arterial hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. For its diagnosis we have non-invasive methods such as the ankle-arm index that also allows us to make a prognosis and follow-up of patients with this pathology. It is important to make the differential diagnosis through anamnesis and physical examination, with other pathologies that generate intermittent claudication such as radicular pathology or musculoskeletal pathology. In terms of medical treatment, the first step is the modification of risk factors, followed by antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs and lipid-lowering therapy with statins.