What is peripheral vascular disease?

Vascular diseases other than cardiovascular diseases are collectively referred to as peripheral vascular diseases. Peripheral vascular diseases include diseases of the arterial, venous and lymphatic systems. Common arterial diseases include: atherosclerotic plaque and thrombosis causing arterial stenosis and occlusion, such as atherosclerotic occlusive disease, arterial embolism; arterial inflammation, such as multiple aortitis, thrombo-occlusive vasculitis, nodular arteritis; arterial dilatation, such as aneurysm; peripheral arterial dysfunction, such as Raynaud’s disease (phenomenon), erythema limb pain; external pressure lesions, such as thoracic outlet syndrome, arterial compression syndrome; diabetic vascular disease, arteriovenous fistula, etc. syndrome; diabetic vasculopathy, arteriovenous fistula, etc. Venous disease is divided into superficial venous disease and deep venous disease, superficial venous disease includes varicose veins and thrombotic superficial phlebitis; deep venous disease includes deep venous thrombosis, primary deep venous valve insufficiency, deep venous thrombosis can cause pulmonary embolism, secondary deep venous thrombosis after syndrome; also includes Buga’s disease, K-T syndrome, etc. Lymphatic system diseases are mainly inflammatory and reflux obstructive diseases, such as lymphangitis, dengue, and lymphoma. Most of the peripheral vascular diseases are difficult to treat and have a greater risk. For example, aneurysm rupture and bleeding, pulmonary embolism can lead to sudden death; multiple aortitis, Buga’s disease, arteriovenous fistula, nodular polyarteritis can lead to important organ failure and death; arteriosclerosis occlusive disease, arterial embolism, diabetic gangrene, etc. can occur gangrene of the limb, so that to save life has to do amputation and cause disability; venous and lymphatic diseases, except pulmonary embolism and Buga’s disease can be life-threatening In addition, venous and lymphatic diseases, except pulmonary embolism and Bugatti’s disease, can cause perennial lower limb swelling, lower leg pigmentation, itching and ulcers. These diseases leave patients in a state of “semi-disability”, which seriously affects the quality of life of people. The treatment of peripheral vascular disease is divided into three parts, namely, Chinese and Western drug treatment, surgery and interventional treatment. The indications for drug treatment are acute thrombosis or embolism, chronic insufficiency of blood supply and arterial spasm diseases, including thrombolysis, anticoagulation, de-agglomeration, dilation, fibrinogenesis and inhibition of platelet adhesion and aggregation. Commonly used western drugs include urokinase, heparin, low molecular dextran, ketococaine, thrombin, prostaglandin E, aspirin, resistin, etc. Chinese herbal medicine, such as Danshen injection, Chuanxiongzin injection and Haosetong injection, has a comprehensive effect of dilating blood vessels, improving microcirculation and inhibiting platelet adhesion and aggregation, which is clinically effective and safe without toxic side effects, and suitable for long-term use. Surgical treatment is an important part of peripheral vascular disease treatment, including vascular anastomosis and repair, vascular bypass surgery, venous valve repair and amputation surgery for peripheral vascular injury, etc. In combination with drug treatment, it can shorten the course of treatment, improve the efficacy and reduce the rate of disability and mortality. However, surgical treatment suffers from a narrow range of indications, surgical complications and a postoperative restenosis rate of up to 30%.