TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A 41-year old diabetic with an infected gangrenous non healing ulcer on the left foot with an amputed great toe was saved from major amputation by successful angioplasty and stenting at Apollo Victor Hospital by Dr Uday Khanolkar and Dr E Biju.
After confirming the diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease by DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography), angioplasty and stenting was done to the arteries of the leg to improve the vascularity.
Endovascular reconstruction of infrapopliteal arteries has become the revascularization of choice for blockages below the knee, where surgical bypass is not possible. By increasing the blood flow, angioplasty helps in healing of the ulcer and prevents local infection from entering the blood stream which is a life threatening condition.
If done early, Angioplasty can prevent amputation in almost 100 per cent of diabetic foots. Even if done little late, it may limit the level of amputation to the toes or just below the ankle; otherwise patient will need to undergo major amputation at the level of knee or above, thereby becoming dependent on crutches and resulting in limitation of activities.
The combination of a high technical success rate, a low complication rate and a high limb salvage rate are possible if angioplasty is performed by a skilled interventionist. 44 patients have undergone angioplasty with stenting in the last two years at Apollo Victor Hospitals with 98 pc success rate of preventing amputation.
Each individual case must be reviewed and investigated thoroughly and then dealt with on its own merits. The scientific data of these lower limb angioplasties has been presented by Dr Khanolkar and Dr Biju in various national and international conferences.
