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Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Treatment in Stockton, CA

Expert PAD care from claudication to critical limb ischemia — angioplasty, stenting, atherectomy, bypass surgery, and non-healing wound management. Serving the Central Valley.

Overview

Don't Wait Until It's Limb-Threatening.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a serious, progressive condition affecting millions of Americans — yet it is vastly underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly across the Central Valley. At Aria Vascular, our board-certified vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists specialize in the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of PAD, from early-stage claudication to critical limb-threatening ischemia.

As the only comprehensive, multidisciplinary vascular center in San Joaquin County, we offer the full range of PAD treatments — minimally invasive endovascular procedures and open surgical bypass — under one roof. Our goal is simple: restore blood flow, relieve pain, heal wounds, and help you keep your limbs.

8.5M

Americans over 40 affected by peripheral arterial disease

3–4×

higher risk of heart attack and stroke in PAD patients vs. general population

Same

day discharge for most angioplasty and stenting procedures

🔍 In-Office ABI Screening Available

An ankle-brachial index (ABI) test is a simple, non-invasive screening tool for PAD — performed right in our Stockton office. No separate imaging appointment needed. If you have risk factors for PAD, call (209) 226-4300 to schedule a screening evaluation.

Understanding PAD

What Is Peripheral Arterial Disease?

PAD occurs when arteries supplying blood to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked by plaque — a process called atherosclerosis. As arteries narrow, blood flow to leg muscles and tissues decreases, causing symptoms ranging from leg pain with walking to non-healing wounds and, in severe cases, gangrene and limb loss.

PAD is significantly more prevalent in communities with high rates of diabetes, smoking, and hypertension — risk factors especially common across the Central Valley. PAD is also a powerful marker of systemic cardiovascular disease: patients with PAD face a dramatically elevated risk of heart attack and stroke.

Smoking (strongest modifiable risk)

Diabetes

High blood pressure

High cholesterol / elevated LDL

Age over 50

Family history of PAD or stroke

Obesity / sedentary lifestyle

Chronic kidney disease

Recognizing the Signs

PAD Stages & Symptoms

PAD progresses through stages from mild to limb-threatening. Recognizing symptoms early is critical to preventing amputation.

Early

Claudication

Cramping, aching, or burning pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock that occurs with walking and resolves with rest. As PAD progresses, the walking distance before pain begins shortens. The most common and earliest sign of PAD.

Advanced

Rest Pain

Pain that occurs even at rest — typically burning or aching in the foot or toes, worse at night or lying flat. Rest pain indicates severely reduced blood flow and requires urgent evaluation to prevent limb loss.

Critical

Non-Healing Wounds & Tissue Loss (CLTI)

Critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) — non-healing wounds, ulcers, or gangrene. Without revascularization to restore blood flow, tissue death and amputation can result. Diabetic patients are at particularly high risk.

⚠ Warning Signs Requiring Urgent Evaluation

A leg wound or foot sore not healing after 2 weeks
Blackening or darkening of toes or foot
Severe leg or foot pain at rest — especially at night
Cold or pale foot compared to the other side
Sudden severe leg pain — may indicate acute arterial occlusion

Our Procedures

PAD Treatments at Aria Vascular

First-Line Approach

Medical Management & Supervised Exercise

For mild claudication without critical ischemia: antiplatelet medications, statin therapy, blood pressure control, smoking cessation, diabetes management, and a supervised exercise program. Supervised exercise therapy has strong evidence for improving walking distance and quality of life in claudication patients.

Minimally Invasive Standard

Peripheral Angioplasty & Stenting

For Calcified Disease

Atherectomy

Atherectomy removes plaque directly from inside the artery — rather than simply compressing it. A specialized catheter with a rotating cutting blade, laser, or orbital device debulks calcified or heavily diseased plaque to restore arterial lumen and blood flow. Particularly effective for long, heavily calcified lesions and below-the-knee disease where stenting is less ideal.

Complex & Multi-Level Disease

Peripheral Bypass Surgery

For patients with anatomy not suitable for endovascular repair, or when endovascular treatment has failed, peripheral bypass surgery offers durable, long-term limb salvage. Our vascular surgeons use the patient’s own saphenous vein graft — or a synthetic graft — to reroute blood flow around the blocked artery. Highly effective for complex multi-level disease and critical limb ischemia.

Limb Salvage Priority

Non-Healing Wound Care & Diabetic Limb Management

Non-healing wounds in PAD and diabetic patients represent a limb-threatening emergency. Aria Vascular coordinates directly with wound care specialists, podiatrists, and endocrinologists to restore blood flow to ischemic limbs — a prerequisite for wound healing. Revascularization combined with wound care and diabetes management gives patients the best chance of healing and limb preservation.

Know Your Options

Endovascular Intervention vs. Open Bypass — At a Glance

Both approaches are excellent options for the right patient. Aria Vascular performs both, and your surgeon will recommend the approach best suited to your anatomy and disease severity.

Factor	Endovascular (Angioplasty/Stenting)	Open Bypass Surgery
Incision	Tiny catheter puncture ✓	Surgical incision in leg
Anesthesia	Local + sedation ✓	General or spinal
Hospital Stay	Same-day or 1 night ✓	3–7 days
Recovery	Days ✓	4–8 weeks
Best Candidate	Most PAD patients	Complex / multi-level disease
Durability	Good — may need repeat	Very durable ✓
Short-Term Risk	Lower ✓	Higher
Available at Aria	Yes ✓	Yes ✓

Our Advantage

Why Central Valley PAD Patients Choose Aria Vascular

What Matters	The Aria Vascular Advantage
Full PAD care spectrum	From angioplasty to bypass surgery — both endovascular and surgical options available without referrals to multiple providers
Limb salvage focus	We are committed to keeping limbs intact — prioritizing revascularization over amputation, working aggressively even in severe CLTI
Wound care coordination	We work directly with wound care specialists, podiatrists, and endocrinologists to address all components of non-healing wound management
Only comprehensive vascular center in San Joaquin County	Expert PAD care locally — Central Valley patients no longer need to travel to Sacramento or the Bay Area
In-office ABI screening	No separate imaging appointment needed — ABI testing performed in our Stockton office for convenient early detection
Cardiovascular risk coordination	PAD is a systemic disease — we coordinate with your cardiologist, primary care physician, and endocrinologist for holistic vascular risk management

Your Care Journey

What to Expect at Aria Vascular

Consultation & ABI Testing

Thorough review of your symptoms, walking distance, wound history, and cardiovascular risk factors. We perform an in-office ABI test — a simple, non-invasive arterial screening tool. If further imaging is needed, we coordinate duplex ultrasound or CT angiography before recommending a treatment plan.

Your Procedure

Angioplasty and stenting are performed under local anesthesia with light sedation — most patients go home the same day or after one night. Bypass surgery requires a 3–7 day hospital stay. Our team provides clear pre-procedure instructions and walks you through every step.

Recovery & Surveillance

Angioplasty patients typically resume activities within 1–3 days and notice rapid improvement in walking and pain. Bypass patients recover over 4–8 weeks. All patients receive structured follow-up with repeat ABI testing and imaging surveillance to monitor patency and detect early restenosis.

Serving the Central Valley

PAD Care Near You

Aria Vascular serves PAD patients throughout San Joaquin County and the Central Valley. We accept referrals from primary care physicians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, podiatrists, and wound care specialists. For urgent limb-threatening cases, call (209) 226-4300 directly.

Stockton

Modesto

Lodi

Tracy

Manteca

Turlock

Merced

Elk Grove

San Joaquin County

Common Questions

PAD FAQs

What are the first signs of peripheral arterial disease?

The most common early sign is claudication — cramping, aching, or burning pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock during walking that resolves with rest. Other signs include leg fatigue, coldness in one leg or foot, skin color changes, and slow-healing sores on the feet or legs. Many people with PAD have no symptoms at all — making screening important for those with risk factors like smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

Can PAD be treated without surgery?

Yes — for most patients, minimally invasive endovascular treatment (angioplasty and stenting) is the first-line approach. It requires no large incision, is performed under local anesthesia, and allows same-day or next-day discharge. Open bypass surgery is reserved for complex anatomy not suitable for endovascular repair or when endovascular treatment has failed. Medical management and supervised exercise therapy are also important at all stages.

What is critical limb ischemia and how serious is it?

Critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is the most severe stage of PAD, characterized by rest pain, non-healing wounds, or gangrene from severely restricted blood flow. Without urgent revascularization, CLTI carries a high risk of amputation and is associated with significant mortality. If you have a non-healing foot wound or severe leg pain at rest, contact Aria Vascular immediately at (209) 226-4300.

How do diabetes and PAD interact?

Diabetes dramatically increases PAD risk and severity. Diabetic patients develop arterial disease earlier, more extensively, and particularly in smaller below-the-knee arteries supplying the foot. Combined with diabetic neuropathy — which reduces sensation — PAD in diabetic patients frequently leads to painless, unnoticed non-healing wounds at high risk for amputation. Aggressive blood sugar control, regular foot inspections, and early PAD screening are essential.

Does PAD affect both legs?

PAD can affect one or both legs. Because atherosclerosis is a systemic process, patients with significant PAD in one leg often have some degree of disease in the other as well, even if asymptomatic. A thorough bilateral evaluation is important to assess the full extent of disease and plan treatment appropriately.

Does insurance cover PAD treatment at Aria Vascular?

Yes. Aria Vascular accepts Medicare and most major insurance plans. Angioplasty, stenting, atherectomy, and bypass surgery for PAD are covered procedures for qualifying patients. Please call (209) 226-4300 to verify your specific coverage prior to your appointment.

Concerned About Leg Pain or a Non-Healing Wound?

Schedule a PAD evaluation — in-office ABI screening, same-day results.

Treatments We Offer

Peripheral Angioplasty & Stenting
Atherectomy
Peripheral Bypass Surgery
Supervised Exercise Referral
Non-Healing Wound Management
Diabetic Limb Management
In-Office ABI Screening

Practice Information

Address

1611 W March Lane Stockton, CA 95207

Hours

Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sat–Sun: Closed

Phone

(209) 226-4300

Fax

(209) 227-1477

Related Services

Don't Wait Until It's Limb-Threatening. Get Evaluated Today.

Aria Vascular is Stockton’s trusted PAD care center — treating claudication, non-healing wounds, and critical limb ischemia with the full range of minimally invasive and surgical options. Call us today to schedule a vascular evaluation.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Treatment in Stockton, CA