Treatment of ischemia depends upon the location of the ischemia and its severity. However, for all forms of ischemia, controlling risk factors, especially smoking cessation, is essential! It may prevent progression of the ischemia and save your limb or your life. Treatment is focused upon getting more blood supply to the area of ischemia. This may be accomplished several ways:
Medications
Several medications may be prescribed to prevent further progressions of the disease and to reduce the effect of contributing factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Medications that fight infections, and pain medications may also be prescribed in certain cases.
Exercise
If one experiences claudication in the legs or angina in the heart, a supervised exercise routine may be prescribed. Regular exercise may also result in other benefits such as weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and better control of diabetes.
Surgery or Endovascular Procedures
In many cases, an endovascular procedure may be performed within the artery using clot-busting drugs to dissolve clots (thrombolysis), a balloon to widen the artery (angioplasty), and/or a wire reinforced stent which remains inside the artery serving as a scaffolding to keep it open. In some cases, a bypass of the affected artery may be performed. Either a segment of leg vein or an artificial tube is attached surgically above and below the blockage to detour blood ow around the blocked area allowing the blood to reach the area of ischemia beyond the blockage. Examples of bypass procedures are leg artery bypass or coronary artery bypass grafting (also known as CABG or “open heart” surgery). Severe blockages in the carotid arteries that lead to ischemia may be treated with a surgical procedure known as carotid endarterectomy in which severe plaque is removed from the artery.