Limb preservation program saves over 1,000 limbs

Aventura, FL —  HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, named by Healthgrades among America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery and America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Care, recognized April as Amputation Prevention and Limb Loss Awareness Month by shining a spotlight on its Limb Preservation Program. To date, the program has saved over 1,000 limbs via a collaborative approach which frequently required endovascular revascularization procedures to improve perfusion and avoid amputation. A commemorative event was held at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 to mark this milestone and recognize Robert and Barbara, two patients whose limbs were saved, markedly improving their quality of life.

According to the American Heart Association1, an estimated 10 million to 12 million adults in the U.S. age 40 and older have peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which increases the risk of amputation. PAD primarily occurs when fatty plaque buildup, known as atherosclerosis narrows the blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the legs and feet. One in ten persons with PAD experience the most severe end of the disease spectrum, chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), which is associated with higher rates of mortality and limb loss with a 1-year major amputation rate of 22% if left untreated2. “Early diagnosis and treatment via coordinated care from a multispecialty team like ours is key to preventing amputations”, shares Dr. Marie Williams, podiatrist and chair, department of podiatry at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital. Furthermore, she adds, “Persons with diabetes are at increased risk for major amputations due to foot infections.” Other risk factors for CLTI include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and a family history of PAD.

Evidence-based guidelines recommend patients with suspected CLTI to be referred urgently to a vascular specialist for evaluation. In the United States, CLTI affects between 1 to 3 million people and is characterized by rest pain, tissue loss, and potential for amputation. “The Limb Preservation Program at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital provides a multidisciplinary approach for timely diagnosis and treatment, including minimally invasive and open revascularization procedures to reconstruct diseased arteries, medications to manage risk factors and advanced wound care.”, highlights Dr. Elianne Rojas, vascular surgeon, HCA Florida Heart and Vascular Care – Aventura.

Currently, limb amputation rates across the country for patients with critical leg ischemia (CLI) range from 16.2% to upwards of 38% during admission for CLI. Moreover, multiple studies indicate that greater than 3 in 4 major lower extremity amputations occur in patients living in metropolitan areas. To learn more about our Limb Preservation Program, surgical services and Diabetes and Wound Care Center visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com/Aventura or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 844.706.8773.

References:

1 New roadmap to lower the risk of amputation in peripheral artery disease, May 14, 2024. Accessed via American Heart Association.
2 Confronting Treatment Disparities in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia, Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2023 Dec 28;17(1). Accessed via PubMed Central.