Buerger’s disease is a rare vascular disorder that causes ulcers, inflammation, and blockage of blood vessels in the arms and legs, severely impacting quality of life through pain. In cases where less invasive approaches fail, vascular treatment for Burger’s disease may be considered to improve blood flow and prevent amputation.
Buerger’s disease mainly affects young male smokers. It causes inflammation and blockage of blood vessels, leading to pain and potential tissue death. Key treatments include smoking cessation, medications for symptom management, and, in severe cases, surgical interventions. The prognosis improves significantly with quitting tobacco.
What Is Buerger’s Disease?
Buerger’s disease, scientifically known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a rare vascular disorder that causes inflammation and blockage of small and medium-sized blood vessels in the arms and legs. Symptoms include pain in the hands, feet, arms, and legs, which may come and go.
The exact cause is unknown, but it is strongly linked to tobacco use, including cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. The disease primarily affects young to middle-aged male smokers, with onset typically before age 45.
As the disease progresses, patients may experience:
- Tingling or numbness in fingers and toes
- Skin color changes (pale, red, or blue)
- Pain while walking
- Open sores on fingers and toes
In severe cases, the reduced blood flow can lead to tissue death (gangrene), potentially requiring amputation. The disease can also affect blood vessels in the intestines, causing abdominal pain and weight loss.
Diagnosis
There’s no definitive test for diagnosing the condition, so the process involves a combination of clinical evaluation and various diagnostic procedures. Physicians typically begin with a physical examination to assess blood flow and check pulses. Other tests may be performed to evaluate circulation in the hands while blood tests rule out other underlying conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune diseases
- Blood clotting disorders
Imaging techniques like angiograms or arteriography are used to visualize any blockages in the blood vessels, and ultrasound can help assess blood flow in the arms and legs. Additionally, differential diagnosis is crucial since doctors must rule out other conditions like peripheral artery disease and other vascular conditions.
Your age, smoking history, and symptom presentation are also important factors considered during the diagnostic process.
Non-Surgical Treatment Approaches
The primary non-surgical treatment for Buerger’s disease is smoking cessation. Quitting all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and even e-cigarettes, is crucial as it’s the only proven way to prevent disease progression. Patients who continue to smoke have a much higher risk of amputation compared to those who quit.
At Vascular Surgical Associates in Evansville, IN, we understand that medications play a supportive role in managing symptoms and improving blood flow. These may include medications that:
- Prevent blood clots
- Widen blood vessels
- Increase your walking distance without pain
- Improve blood flow in severe cases
- Relieve pain
Wound care is essential to prevent infection and promote the healing of ulcers or other skin lesions. This involves:
- Regular cleaning of cuts and scrapes with soap and water
- Applying antibiotic ointment and clean bandages
- Monitoring for signs of infection
- Protecting fingers and toes from cold and injury
Another non-surgical option we may recommend at Vascular Surgical Associates in Evansville, IN, is compression therapy to improve blood flow in affected limbs. Regular exercise, when approved by a healthcare provider, can also help enhance circulation.
Vascular Treatment Options
Vascular treatment for Buerger’s disease is reserved for severe cases. In situations like these, the Vascular Surgical Associates team in Evansville, IN, may consider the following interventions:
- Endovascular procedures
- Bypass surgery
- Sympathectomy
Endovascular procedures like angioplasty or stenting might be attempted to improve blood flow in larger affected vessels.
Bypass surgery aims to reroute blood flow around blocked arteries to improve circulation in the affected limb. This is accomplished by using one of your own repurposed veins. Bypass surgery might be considered if you have severe ischemia (restricted blood flow) and there is a suitable blood vessel far enough away from the blockage.
Sympathectomy involves surgically cutting the sympathetic nerves to reduce arterial spasms and potentially improve blood flow. It can be performed using minimally invasive methods. While it may provide short-term pain relief and promote ulcer healing in some patients, no long-term benefit has been confirmed. It’s generally considered when other treatments have failed and amputation is imminent.
It’s important to remember that these surgical interventions are typically considered only in severe cases. At Vascular Surgical Associates in Evansville, IN, this includes when conservative treatments have failed and you have successfully quit smoking.
The Long-Term Outlook
The long-term outlook for Buerger’s disease largely depends on your ability to quit tobacco use completely. Patients who stop using tobacco have a significantly better prognosis, with about 94% avoiding amputation. Those who quit before the disease progresses to critical limb ischemia have an amputation rate close to zero.
Follow-up care involves regular medical check-ups to monitor disease progression and manage symptoms. You may also need ongoing wound care for ulcers and treatment for pain management. Lifestyle modifications play another crucial role, with complete tobacco cessation being the most important. This includes all forms of tobacco and even secondhand smoke.
Other modifications include:
- Regular exercise, particularly walking, to improve circulation
- Protecting extremities from cold and injury
- Maintaining good foot and hand hygiene
- Avoiding medications that constrict blood vessels
With proper management and lifestyle changes, many patients can achieve disease remission and avoid severe complications like amputation.
Vascular Treatment for Buerger’s Disease in Evansville, IN
Vascular Surgical Associates offers specialized vascular care in Evansville, IN, and the surrounding area, making it an excellent choice for treatment in the Tri-State region. Our team of experienced vascular uses utilizes state-of-the-art imaging technology to provide accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
We prioritize minimally invasive procedures when possible, which can lead to faster recovery times. Our team also emphasizes a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, working closely with your primary care provider and other specialists to ensure comprehensive care and optimal treatment outcomes for complex vascular conditions like Buerger’s disease.
Do you need vascular treatment for Buerger’s disease in the Tri-State area? Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
Buerger’s disease is a rare vascular disorder primarily affecting young male smokers. It results in blood vessel inflammation and blockage, causing pain and possible tissue death. Treatment focuses on smoking cessation, symptom management medications, and surgical options in severe cases, with better outcomes for those who quit tobacco.
Vascular Surgical Associates provides comprehensive and compassionate surgical care to the tri-state area. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to contact us or schedule an appointment. We are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
