Peripheral vascular disease is a common and disabling malady, and patients seeking treatment may turn to their cardiologist, whom they are seeing for existing cardio-vascular disease, for advice and treatment. Conventional treatment has always been medical management and, inevitably, surgical bypass, even amputation. Because stents have had a significantly high impact on endoluminal treatment outcomes by preventing injury to the lumen, reducing the potential for hyperplasia and restenosis, as well as the likelihood of plaque disruption and embolization, the 20 or so available peripheral vascular stents must be considered an alternative to bypass surgery.
