Overview

An aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is a subtype of peripheral artery disease that impacts the iliac and aortic arteries. Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a condition that affects the veins in the leg. Aortoiliac occlusive disease occurs when the iliac artery, which supplies blood to the legs, becomes restricted due to the accumulation of plaque or fat deposits.

Warning Signs

Typical signs of aortoiliac occlusive disease include the following:

• Pain in the lower extremity
• Numbness in the lower legs
• Cramping in the legs
• The likelihood of gangrene in the feet increases
• Erectile dysfunction (in men)

Causes

The aorta serves as the primary blood vessel that emerges from the heart, travels down the chest into the belly and connects with the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries transfer blood to the legs. However, aortoiliac occlusive disease develops when the aorta and iliac artery become restricted as a result of the following:

• The accumulation of plaque, a solid substance comprised of cholesterol in the iliac artery or aorta.
• Deposits of fat found in the arteries
• Calcium build-up
• Additional substances found in the blood

Treatment

Treatment for AIOD depends on the progression and severity of the condition. Typically, Dr Ntola treats aortoiliac occlusive disease in the following ways:

• Prescribed medications to reduce the risk of blood clots and minimise cholesterol.
• Making healthy lifestyle decisions such as engaging in daily exercise, quitting smoking and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Surgery may be the only way to rectify signs of severe aortoiliac occlusive disease, which entails the following:

• Angioplasty and stenting are surgical procedures that utilise a special balloon to reopen the artery, while a metal mesh tube helps keep the artery open.
• ABypass surgery to help blood flow around the blocked region. Dr Ntola begins by removing a viable blood vessel from another body part (chest or lower leg). The ends of the graft are attached underneath the obstructed artery. The graft allows the seamless flow of blood around the blocked region.