Avoidance of surgical intervention in peripheral artery disease through intensive lifestyle modification: a case report

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an advanced circulatory disorder that is linked to pain, functional disability, and an increased risk of surgical operation. Although pharmacological and surgical methods continue to be at the center of the management, there is not much reporting on the effectiveness of structured lifestyle changes as a primary therapy intervention. This case demonstrates how intensive lifestyle intervention can be used to improve the outcomes in a patient with PAD, which supports a non-invasive, patient-focused treatment course. Case presentation: We present the case of a 57-year-old man with 15 years of smoking history, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented with progressive claudication pain and rest discomfort. Ankle-brachial index (baseline) in the right and left legs was 0.62 and 0.68, respectively, moderate PAD. Our patient refused acute surgical treatment and was put under a well-organized program of lifestyle changes, which included exercise therapy with supervision, smoking-quitting education, diet management, and pharmacologic hypertension and diabetes optimization. During a 12-month follow-up, the patient showed significant symptom improvement, with a pain-free walking distance of 80 meters to 300 meters. The pain in the rest had been resolved, and the repeat ankle-brachial index had increased to 0.84 and 0.88, respectively. It is worth noting that the patient did not undergo any surgical intervention, and neither did she develop amputation. Conclusions: The case illustrates that a thorough lifestyle change with the help of intensive treatment might substantially decrease the severity of the disease, enhance the quality of functional outcomes, and even delay the onset of operative treatment in PAD patients. The use of organized lifestyle interventions in both rheumatology and vascular care could decrease the surgical workload and enhance the patient's quality of life, especially in resource-constrained environments.