Iliac disease???

[lollyone]

Hi.
My Nan (78 years) is due to go into hospital next week for a procedure to unblock an artery. The thing where they go in through your leg and inflate the little 'balloon' to clear the artery. (I'm sure that's the technical explanation!)
She's never given much away when she's seen the doctors/specialists, and won't have anyone go in with her.
Yesterday I managed a peek at her hospital referral letters and it said along the lines- Patient has severe Iliac disease on right side.... mild disease of the femoral.. something.. left side.
I was trying to memorise it.
She is a smoker, it said on the letter that she had been ask to stop.
Can anyone tell me what is Illiac disease, and the prognosis? She's been told she will only stay in hospital overnight for her procedure next week. Is it a fairly routine op?
Many thanks.

[Sqad]

Iliac isn't a disease. it is an artery in the pelvis, which divides into the femoral arteries and down they go, supplying blood to the legs.

"Iliac disease" in this case describes atheroma (thickening of the artery) which is not uncommon, particularly in smokers. The main symptom is intermiitent claudication (pain in the legs on walking a small distance.

Surgical procedures depend upon the site of blockage and in your Nan'a case it seems to be fairly localised.

Don't worry, common procedure.

[lollyone]

Thank you very much sqad. She does have severe pain when walking and has a wheelchair sometimes now. Her toes are very painful and often purple. I presume this would be linked then? When the artery is unblocked would this make the pain when walking lessen then?

[Sqad]

Yes.

[lollyone]

Thank you.