How serious is a blocked femoral artery?
The arteries in your legs and feet can get blocked, just like the arteries in your heart. When this happens, less blood flows to your legs. This is called peripheral artery disease (PAD). If your leg arteries are badly blocked, you may develop foot pain while resting or a sore that won't heal.
What are the symptoms of a blocked femoral artery?
PAD Pain Signs and SymptomsTell-tale signs of femoral artery disease and PAD include:Aching, cramping, numbing and weakness that occurs when walking or exercising.Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other leg.Sores on your legs, feet or toes that won't heal.More items...
What causes blockage in femoral artery?
The blockage usually happens because of narrowed and hardened arteries (atherosclerosis). This is caused by plaque build-up inside the arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood.
Do you need surgery to unblock an artery?
Surgery to remove the buildup in your carotid artery may be done if the artery is narrowed by more than 70%. If you have had a stroke or temporary brain injury, your provider will consider whether treating your blocked artery with surgery is safe for you.Jun 16, 2020
How serious is blockage in legs?
Any blocked blood flow to your legs can cause pain, weakness, and numbness. A blocked artery also increases your risk of developing a serious infection. Gangrene can develop from severely blocked blood flow and cause body tissue to die. In severe cases, this may require leg amputation.Oct 26, 2021
Is femoral artery in both legs?
Put simply, the femoral artery originates in the groin and runs down each leg, stopping right around the knee. (At the knee, the femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery).Dec 16, 2021
Can you stent a 100% blocked artery?
“Patients typically develop symptoms when an artery becomes narrowed by a blockage of 70 percent or more,” says Menees. “Most times, these can be treated relatively easily with stents. However, with a CTO, the artery is 100 percent blocked and so placing a stent can be quite challenging.”Jul 18, 2017
How long is recovery from femoral artery surgery?
It may take 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems.
Can a person live with one blocked artery?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is treatable, but there is no cure. This means that once diagnosed with CAD, you have to learn to live with it for the rest of your life. By lowering your risk factors and losing your fears, you can live a full life despite CAD.
Do they put stents in leg arteries?
Stents can also open up narrow arteries in your legs caused by peripheral arterial disease. They're also used to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to your abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally large and balloons.
Which leg is your main artery in?
One travels down each leg and branches into internal and external iliac arteries, which supply blood to other branches, including the femoral artery. The femoral artery, the major artery in the thigh, continues to branch into other smaller arteries as blood travels all the way down to the tips of the toes.
What is a stent in the groin?
The doctor will insert a tiny, flexible plastic tube called a catheter through an artery in our groin, leg, or arm. A special dye is injected so blood flow through the arteries is visible on the TV monitors. The doctor moves a balloon catheter, and then a stent, to the site of the blockage.