If you are someone who has struggled with foot issues for a long time due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) or diabetes, you may have become discouraged by the setbacks and struggles that can accompany these conditions.
But take heart! Lam Vascular and Associates might just be the answer you’ve been hoping for. Our very own Dr. Russell Lam specializes in amputation prevention and has years of experience in limb salvage and PAD treatment.
Rarely does Dr. Lam conclude that amputation is the best answer.
What exactly is limb salvage? Here, it refers to surgical intervention to help “save” the limb of a patient suffering from severe blockages in their extremities. Traditionally, amputation was the most common “treatment” for limbs affected by PAD and is still commonly recommended by doctors who do not have significant vascular expertise.
Limb salvage can be a complicated undertaking and requires the experience of a skilled specialist in order to intervene and prevent the foot or leg amputation; specialists like Dr. Russell Lam and Dr. Cassidy Duran.
“As a vascular surgeon, a big part of my job is education,” said Dr. Lam. “I try to educate every patient not only about their disease, but what their treatment options are and how we can work together. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer, but my solution is almost never amputation.”
Patients are often told by a doctor that their lower extremity needs to be amputated, and they commonly undergo the operation without ever getting a second opinion. But in many cases, PAD, while complex in nature, can be successfully treated using minimally invasive techniques on an outpatient basis.
Historically, PAD had to be treated with invasive surgery that required a hospital stay and significant downtime. In many cases, this is no longer true.
Amputations and invasive surgeries are far less common for PAD treatment due to the development of endovascular (minimally invasive) procedures. Dr. Lam specializes in these types of procedures – including laser atherectomy and angioplasty with stenting – and has performed over 10,000 to date.
Dr. Lam and Dr. Duran invite you to schedule an appointment for an in-office second opinion evaluation at Lam Vascular and Associates. Click here to schedule one now.
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.
