Dr. Christopher W. Pollock and Dr. George A. Pliagas of the Premier Limb Preservation Clinic
State-of-the-art techniques and technologies are helping surgeons at the new Premier Limb Preservation Clinic open clogged arteries and possibly prevent amputation for those suffering from diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI).
“The Premier Limb Preservation Clinic offers patients a variety of treatment options using the latest techniques and technologies,” said Premier surgeon George A. Pliagas, MD, FACS. “Some procedures can even improve blood flow and save limbs when other treatments have failed.”
The American Heart Association estimates nearly eight million Americans suffer from PAD, a life-threatening condition especially prevalent in diabetics and those who smoke. The condition, caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries, can result in severe and even debilitating leg pain. When the plaque becomes calcified, treatment is difficult.
Calcified arteries are like uncooked pasta or even concrete, reducing blood flow and causing painful PAD symptoms such as leg muscle cramping, foot or toe pain, and slow healing foot wounds. When blood flow is restricted due to excessive plaque build-up, circulation often is insufficient to keep tissue alive, which is CLI. This dead tissue can cause gangrene and lead to amputation. Amputation is typically a procedure of last resort.
The Premier Limb Preservation Clinic is a division of Premier Surgical Associates, East Tennessee’s largest group of board-certified vascular surgeons. The clinic offers a full spectrum of care combining imaging technologies with the latest precision instruments to treat vascular disease. Some of the endovascular and surgical procedures Premier surgeons employ include:
- Balloon angioplasty, the widening of an artery by inserting a thin, flexible, balloon-tipped catheter into the narrowed blood vessel and inflating the balloon to improve blood flow. In many cases, stents are placed inside the vessel to maintain blood flow.
- Atherectomy, the removal of artery-blocking plaque while preserving the healthy tissue of the arterial wall by either shaving the plaque and removing it from the body or breaking up plaque into pieces small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Vascular bypass, the surgical rerouting of blood flow around an obstruction using a substitute vessel or graft in an artery
“Those experiencing pain during exercise that subsides when at rest, cold legs, poor wound healing, constant leg pain, tingling, burning or loss of sensation in limbs should see a physician to determine if PAD is a problem,” said Premier surgeon Christopher W. Pollock, MD, FACS. “PAD is a leading indicator of those at risk for heart disease or stroke. Sometimes considered a ‘silent killer,’ PAD develops over time often with no major symptoms.”
Limb salvage is not always possible, but new technologies are giving physicians at the Premier Limb Preservation Clinic additional options to help the growing number of patients suffering from diabetes, PAD and CLI.
Patients at risk for amputation may contact the Premier Limb Preservation Clinic at 865-588-8229 to schedule a consultation.
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