Peripheral Vascular Disease

A modern approach to treating peripheral vascular disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease Main Content

view of a man from behind wearing shorts and athletic shoes that was exercising on a gravel walking path is bent over holding his right calf from pain.
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Baptist Heart Specialists

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Cardiologists with Baptist Heart Specialists do more than just fix blockages in the heart. They also fix blockages throughout the body in veins, arteries and lymph vessels, which cause pain and poor circulation known as Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), sometimes referred to as peripheral artery disease (PAD).

What is Peripheral Vascular Disease?

PVD is a slow, progressive clogging or narrowing of arteries and blood vessels with a fatty build-up that hinders and blocks normal blood flow. The legs and feet are most commonly affected, and those with a history of smoking, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and ages 65+ are most at risk.

Content Section 1

PVD / PAD Team

Baptist has several cardiologists and an entire team who specialize in peripheral vascular interventions.

  • Peripheral vascular disease specialists
  • Cardiovascular surgeons
  • Emergency medicine specialists
  • Cardiovascular nurses
  • Pharmacists
  • Cardiothoracic surgeons
  • Endovascular surgeons
  • Cardiac care coordinator
  • Nutritionists
  • Patient and family educators
  • Exercise and rehabilitation specialists
  • Cardiologists

“The field of Interventional Cardiology has really exploded into areas beyond the heart. With extensive experience with wires and catheters, cardiologists are spearheading treatments concerning arteries and veins across the entire body. We at Baptist currently offer treatment from neck to toe – from carotid artery stenting in neck to angioplasty in the toes!”

—Dr. Wayangankar, medical director of the Peripheral Vascular Program

  • Photo of Raghav Gupta, MD

    Baptist Heart Specialists

    Raghav Gupta, MD

    Interventional Cardiologist; Medical Director, Peripheral Vascular Program

Content Section 2

Vein Clinic at Baptist Health

Venous reflux disease damages valves and restricts blood flow, leading to an elevation of pressure and problematic symptoms:

  • Leg pain
  • Swollen limbs
  • Leg heaviness and fatigue
  • Skin changes (color and texture)
  • Varicose veins

Our team of vein experts can treat venous reflux disease all in the comfort and convenience of a traditional office setting, including vein mapping, and without sedation. A minimally invasive approach, ablation technology, gets you home the same day. Deep vein issues that require an intervention procedure are done in our catheterization lab.

Why Baptist for Vein Treatment?
Continuity of care is one of the benefits of seeing a cardiologist with Baptist Heart Specialists. You can expect ongoing care after an intervention procedure, with regular and ongoing follow-ups in our clinic.

Suspect vein disease?
Schedule a consult with a vein expert today at Baptist Heart Specialists.

Schedule Appointment 904.720.0799

a smiling female provider wearing a stethoscope sits across a desk from a patient

Content Section 3

High-Tech Treatments

When medications, lifestyle changes and exercise are not enough to relieve symptoms, we offer innovative treatments. Depending on the condition, we use high-tech vascular procedures.

  • Carotid arteries stenting for patients with a history of stroke, transient loss of vision and abnormal carotid duplex. Dr. Siddharth Wayangankar is an investigator for the CREST-2 trial, which compares medical therapy versus stenting in patients with more than 70% blockage in the carotid arteries.
  • Renal (kidney) artery angioplasty and stenting for patients with difficult-to-control blood pressure
  • Angioplasty, atherectomy and stent placement
  • Revascularization to improve erectile dysfunction
  • Subclavian artery stenting for left arm pain or blood pressure differences in both arms
  • Thrombectomy to remove fresh clots with devices that act like vacuum cleaners in arteries
  • Superficial and deep venous procedures
  • Treatments for pulmonary embolism
interior shot of the Hybrid Vascular Operating Room at Baptist Heart Hospital showing equipment used during procedures

Sophisticated Procedures

At the Hybrid Vascular Operating Room at Baptist Heart Hospital, physicians conduct interventional procedures, diagnosis and treatment all in one location at the same time. Surgeons use sophisticated imaging equipment during procedures to precisely guide and verify intricate repairs. This means quicker diagnosis and treatment with less time under anesthesia, all leading to better outcomes.

Clinical Trials

ON THE LEADING EDGE
To ensure patients in our community have access to the most advanced heart treatments, Baptist Health is active in clinical trials.

Clinical trials at Baptist Heart Specialists
by the numbers Jan - Dec 2021
112 patients enrolled in clinical trials
7 research staff
27 open trials

Content Section 4

Jacksonville's Only Freestanding Heart Hospital

Baptist Heart Hospital is the centerpiece of our top-ranked heart and vascular program. It's home to more than 500 physicians, nurses and staff with specialized training in providing inpatient and outpatient cardiovascular and thoracic care.

Our dedicated cardiology group, Baptist Heart Specialists, provides innovative, patient-centered care at 10 convenient locations throughout the community.

Heart Hospital Office Locations

A nighttime photograph of the Baptist Heart Hospital exterior from the St. Johns River with city buildings in the background.