Limb Preservation Program

Approximately 8.5 million people in the United States have peripheral artery disease (PAD), the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the limbs. ^{[ *1]} Left untreated, PAD can lead to wounds that cannot heal, and ultimately to limb loss. In fact, each year more than 160,000 Americans lose their limbs due to complications from PAD. ^[*2]

This GA woman's stubbed toe led her to discover she had peripheral artery disease. The Limb Preservation Program saved her from potentially losing a limb. Watch the full story here:

Loss of a limb is devastating for patients and their families. That is why the Northside Hospital has launched a comprehensive Limb Preservation Program, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of specialists, who work to identify patients with threat of limb loss and care for them using the latest advancements in evidence-based medicine and minimally-invasive surgery in order to avoid unnecessary amputations.

Entry Criteria for the Limb Preservation Program includes:

• Continuous foot pain of more than 2 weeks duration without palpable pedal pulses
• Ankle or foot wound present for more than 2 weeks
• Toe or foot gangrene
• Foot redness or cyanosis without palpable pedal pulses
• Foot infection for more than 2 weeks, resistant to antibiotic treatment

Patients may be identified as having a limb-threatening condition in the primary care physician offices, specialty offices or through Northside’s Emergency Department or inpatient units. Once identified, the appropriate multispecialty evaluation and testing will be immediately initiated for each patient.

The specialties involved in the Limb Preservation Program are:

• Vascular Surgery
• Podiatry
• Endocrinology/Diabetes
• Infectious Disease
• Wound Care/Hyperbaric Medicine
• Plastic Surgery

A dedicated vascular team will assist in scheduling the initial evaluation and will ensure coordinated treatment across all necessary specialties. The vascular team will guide patients through the follow-up appointments and the recommended lifestyle changes.

The highly-trained experts at our Northside Vascular Surgery are integral to the coordination of care found at the Northside Hospital Limb Preservation Program. Click here for a listing of their conveniently located offices.

^[*1] Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Fact Sheet; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Accessed Aug. 25, 2016.

^[*2] Allie DE, Hebert CJ, Ingraldi A, Patlola RR, Walker CM. 24-Carat Gold, 14-Carat Gold, or Platinum Standards in the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia: Bypass Surgery or Endovascular Intervention? J Endovsc Ther. 2009;16(Suppl I):I134–I146.