peripheral vascular system

{{Use American English|date = January 2019}}

{{Short description|Veins and arteries not in the chest or abdomen}}

{{Use mdy dates|date = January 2019}}

Image:Image of a wrist with blue veins visible.JPG

The peripheral vascular system is the part of the circulatory system that consists of the veins and arteries not in the chest or abdomen (i.e. in the arms, hands, legs and feet).{{cite web|title=What Is Peripheral Vascular Disease?|url=https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300323.pdf|website=American Heart Association (heart.org)|accessdate=26 February 2015|date=2012|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412121230/http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/%40wcm/%40hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300323.pdf|archivedate=April 12, 2015|df=mdy-all|quote=Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the narrowing of the arteries to the legs, stomach, arms and head.}}{{cite web |title=Overview of Peripheral Arterial Disease - Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders |url=https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/heart-and-blood-vessel-disorders/peripheral-arterial-disease/overview-of-peripheral-arterial-disease |website=Merck Manuals Consumer Version |accessdate=30 April 2019 |language=en-CA |quote=Disorders of arteries that supply the brain with blood are considered separately as cerebrovascular disease. Disorders that reduce blood flow of arteries in the abdomen are considered separately as abdominal aortic branch occlusion.}} The peripheral arteries supply oxygenated blood to the body, and the peripheral veins lead deoxygenated blood from the capillaries in the extremities back to the heart.{{cite journal | last=Hochauf | first=Sandra | last2=Sternitzky | first2=Reinhardt | last3=Schellong | first3=Sebastian M. | title=Struktur und Funktion des venösen Systems | journal=Herz | publisher=Springer Nature | volume=32 | issue=1 | year=2007 | issn=0340-9937 | pmid=17323029 | doi=10.1007/s00059-007-2951-x | pages=3–9 | language=de}}

Peripheral veins are the most common intravenous access method in both hospitals and paramedic services for a peripheral intravenous (IV) line for intravenous therapy.{{cite book | last=Malenfant | first=Jason | last2=Bubb | first2=Kathleen | last3=Wade | first3=Alena | last4=Tubbs | first4=R. Shane | last5=Loukas | first5=Marios | title=Totally Implantable Venous Access Devices | chapter=Vascular Anatomy of Central and Peripheral Veins | publisher=Springer Milan | location=Milano | year=2012 | isbn=978-88-470-2372-7 | doi=10.1007/978-88-470-2373-4_2 | pages=11–17}}{{cite web | title=peripheral venous catheter | website=National Cancer Institute | url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms | access-date=2019-05-02}}{{cite journal | last=Lamperti | first=M. | last2=Pittiruti | first2=M. | title=II. Difficult peripheral veins: turn on the lights | journal=BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia | volume=110 | issue=6 | date=2013-06-01 | issn=0007-0912 | doi=10.1093/bja/aet078 | pmid=23687310 | pages=888–891 | url=https://academic.oup.com/bja/article/110/6/888/246274 | access-date=2019-05-02| doi-access=free }}

In some cases blockages in the peripheral arteries may be treated with catheterization and balloon dilatation instead of surgery.{{cite journal | last=Lee | first=G | last2=Ikeda | first2=R M | last3=Joye | first3=J A | last4=Bogren | first4=H G | last5=DeMaria | first5=A N | last6=Mason | first6=D T | title=Evaluation of transluminal angioplasty of chronic coronary artery stenosis. Value and limitations assessed in fresh human cadaver hearts. | journal=Circulation | publisher=Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) | volume=61 | issue=1 | year=1980 | issn=0009-7322 | doi=10.1161/01.cir.61.1.77 | pmid=7349945 | pages=77–83| doi-access=free }}{{cite journal | last=Krajcer | first=Z | last2=Howell | first2=MH | title=Update on Endovascular Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease: New Tools, Techniques, and Indications | journal=Texas Heart Institute Journal | volume=27 | issue=4 | year=2000 | pmid=11198311 | pmc=101107 | pages=369–385}}