Beacon patient quickly returns to active lifestyle after minimally invasive vascular procedure

Jean Hill

Jean Hill enjoys walking, gardening and working as a box office clerk at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

Not being able to stay active would mean having to make dramatic changes in her life.

So it was concerning when some mild leg cramps Jean had been experiencing began to hurt more and happen more regularly.

As someone with type 2 diabetes, Jean is careful to stay on top of any health concerns, so she told her primary care provider, Dr. James Tieman, Beacon Medical Group Ireland Road, about the worsening pain. He ordered some tests and took blood pressure readings on her arms and legs.

Dr. Tieman wasn’t able to get a strong pulse in her ankles and diagnosed Jean with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which a person’s arteries become narrow, often because of plaque buildup. This reduces the blood flow to the person’s arms or legs.

Dr. James Tieman

Mild cases of PAD can often be helped by lifestyle changes, while more severe cases can require surgery.

Quick intervention

Her provider referred Jean to Dr. Howard Wiarda, vascular and interventional radiologist, for a consultation.

“I met with him, and he told me what the possibilities were,” Jean said. Because the blood flow to her legs was already poor, surgery was the best option.

“Ms. Hill was an excellent candidate to improve her blood flow to her legs in a minimally invasive way,” Dr. Wiarda said. “We thought not only could we fix this through a small pinprick entrance into her artery, but also do this as an outpatient (procedure) so she could go home the same day.”

Dr. Howard Wiarda

Dr. Wiarda performed an angioplasty on Jean’s right leg within just two weeks of their consultation, and the same procedure on her left leg followed in mid-November.

Jean describes the outpatient surgery at Memorial Hospital as “delightful.”

During an angioplasty procedure, the physician opens up blocked arteries using a balloon guided through a thin, flexible tube to the affected area. When the balloon inflates, it presses the plaque against the walls of the patient’s artery, creating more space for blood to flow. After removing the balloon, the surgeon may place a small mesh tube called a stent in the artery to help ensure it remains open.

Using the balloon and stent technology, blood flow to Jean’s legs was restored.

“Dr. Wiarda was very nice and very efficient,” Jean said. “He explained lots of things to me ahead of time, so I didn’t go in wondering what was going on. And he has a marvelous staff.”

Within a week of the first procedure, Jean’s leg was already feeling much better.

“I don’t know how to explain it. It was almost immediate,” she said. “The second surgery was as easy as the first.”

Dr. Wiarda said Jean had a great outcome.

“We were able to restore the blood flow to her legs so she could once again perform her activities she enjoyed,” Dr. Wiarda said. “She is a great lady and patient, and we will continue to follow her to make sure she continues to do well.”

Jean’s advice to others who are experiencing leg pain is direct: “Go to a doctor. Get it diagnosed. Don’t sit around and talk about it.”

Let our Beacon doctors care for you

No matter your need or age, our primary care doctors are here to treat your medical needs. Click here to find a physician.

Click here to read more about the Beacon Vascular and Interventional Radiology team who cared for Steve Dewey. Our collaborative multi-specialty team provides preventative, medical, surgical, and endovascular treatments to improve vascular health and treat peripheral and cerebral vascular disease.

Trust your heart to the team at Beacon for a healthier you.