For patients facing a PAD diagnosis, especially those who are facing amputation, it’s a very scary time and often one of not knowing where to turn. That’s where Dr. Lam comes in. In a recent interview, he weighed in on the importance of seeking out as much information as possible and getting a second opinion.
“A big part of my job as a vascular surgeon is education.
Every patient I see, I try to educate them not only about their disease, but what their treatment options are and how we can work together to best treat their individual concerns. There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to peripheral artery disease (PAD) or any other vascular disease, and I rarely jump to the conclusion of an amputation.
I exhaust all other options before going there. However, there are many physicians who believe amputation is the best solution. That is due to the complex nature of PAD and other vascular conditions — they require a lot of expertise and experience to be able to treat it in the best fashion.
One of the things that always surprises me is that people will be told by a doctor that their lower extremity needs to be amputated and they will undergo the operation without ever getting a second opinion.
Their doctor will recommend that course of treatment because they feel it is a better alternative to undergoing multiple surgeries when the reality is that in many cases, PAD can be successfully treated using minimally invasive techniques on an outpatient basis.
Sometimes it’s a simple procedure that completely changes a patient’s life and one that they may have never known about had they not sought out a second opinion. That is why I cannot stress enough the importance of getting a second opinion. It could save your limbs and give you back the quality of life you’ve been missing out on due to PAD.”
– Dr. Lam
If you have been told you have PAD and/or are facing amputation, make a second opinion appointment with Dr. Lam. Click here or call Lam Vascular & Associates at 214.345.4160.
The information contained in this article is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice. Patient results will vary based on risk factors, age, disease and medical history and are not guaranteed in any way.
