Memorial Service Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Department Head Prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı gave information about leg vascular occlusions and coronary stent applications to the leg.
“Sugar and smoking can cause leg atherosclerosis”
Stating that the legs support the entire skeleton in the body, Prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı said, “In order for the legs to have a healthy muscle group, the blood circulation must be at the highest level. However, smoking, high blood lipid levels, high risk of blood clots, and some genetic disorders, especially diabetes patients, can cause occlusive arterial diseases in the leg veins. he said.
“Do not underestimate this situation if your feet are cold”
prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı pointed out that leg vein occlusions mostly affect diabetic patients and said, “Wounds that are very difficult to heal can occur in the leg veins of patients due to insufficient blood flow. These wounds that do not respond to treatment may also cause the legs or toes of the patient to be cut. Early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance in leg vascular occlusions in order to avoid any loss of limb. used his statements.
prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı said that it is necessary to pay attention to the following symptoms, which are indicative of leg vascular occlusion:
“Chills in the feet, deterioration or thickening of the nails, loss of leg hair, rapid fatigue of the calf and thigh muscles during walking, cramps.”
Stating that stents used in coronary heart diseases can also be used in leg veins, Prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı said, “Today, stents are frequently used for coronary heart diseases. These life-saving stents can now be used in the occlusions of stenoses located at the ends of the leg veins. Previously, stents with a diameter of 5-7 mm could be used for occlusions in the thigh region. However, only balloon angioplasty was performed in vessels with a diameter of 2-3 mm. Especially good results can be obtained by using drug-coated stents in stenosis and occlusions in the end regions. This application can make significant contributions to the prevention of limb loss, especially in diabetic patients.” made its assessment.
“The patient can return home on foot without losing his leg”
Stating that if the patient is at risk of leg vein occlusion and there are signs of occlusion, Prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı continued as follows:
“After the physical examination of the patient, the necessary examinations can be made and the diagnosis of leg vein occlusion can be made. Today, in the patient-specific treatment of leg vascular occlusions, intravascular interventions such as balloon angioplasty, atherectomy and stents accompanied by angiography are the most preferred methods in addition to various drugs. Stents used in leg veins are still in development today. The most important reason for this is that the leg vessels are very long and drug-coated stents are not yet used in this region. The reason why stents have not been fully used yet is that the vessels in the joint areas are constantly exposed to bending and twisting, leading to deterioration of the functions of the stents. However, the use of coronary stents, especially in the below-knee region, has created new possibilities for solving the circulation problem. Patients with leg vascular occlusion experience the comfort of both going home on the same day after the stent procedure and not experiencing any loss of limb.”