18 Million Americans Suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Left untreated, PAD can lead to amputation. Each year 160,000 amputations are performed as a result of peripheral arterial disease.
South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is Taking A Stand Against Amputation. Dr. Pineda and Dr. Kokinos recently attended the “Advanced Orbital Atherectomy Course in the Treatment of Complex PAD Below the Knee” at Metro Health Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This course was led by Dr. Jihad Mustapha, a thought leader in the field of critical limb ischemia. The techniques included using alternate access sites (using the arteries at the ankle and foot for access), instead of using the traditional groin site. The course also included treatment of arteries in the foot, with the main goal being on limb preservation and amputation prevention. To date, Dr.’s Kokinos and Pineda have performed more procedures using pedal access than any other surgeons in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and are recognized as leaders in this area.
The practices expounded by Dr. Mustapha and his team are the same techniques and principles the vascular surgeons at South Bay Vascular use in their care and treatment of PAD. These include: identification and aggressive medical management of risk factors, minimally invasive interventions when indicated, and continued surveillance to detect issues before they become clinically apparent.
At South Bay Vascular, we do use alternate sites frequently, and by using this approach, decrease the rate of groin complications and the length of time that the patient has to remain flat after a procedure. Furthermore, with our growing population of diabetics and patients with kidney disease, we are better equipped to manage critical limb ischemia and prevent amputations. This course is in support of our focus on taking care of patients at risk of losing a limb.
If you or a loved one is diabetic, has kidney disease (is on dialysis), or has been told they need an amputation, please contact us for a consultation with one of our surgeons and together we will Take A Stand Against Amputation.