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Peripheral arterial disease is a common condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries and results in less blood flowing to the legs. Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease may include leg pain (particularly after walking) and sores that won’t heal.

There are a variety of treatments for peripheral arterial disease, including exercise, medications and surgery.

Another option that is less invasive than surgery is called angioplasty. During an angioplasty, a blood vessel is opened with a balloon. A small, wire mesh tube (otherwise known as a stent) may then be inserted to help hold the artery open and decrease its chance of narrowing again. Some stents are coated with medication to help keep the artery open (drug-eluting stents), while others are not (bare-metal stents).

Drug eluting stents that release a drug called paclitaxel may do a better job of keeping narrowed blood vessels open.