Ask the Specialist: Saving Limbs - Jihad Mustapha, MD

http://www.ask-the-specialist.com/ In this country alone, there are approximately 1.7 million people living with limb loss. Rates of cancer and trauma-related amputations are decreasing. However, amputations due to complications of the vascular system continue to increase. Ask The Specialist was on location with Dr. Jihad Mustapha at Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Mustapha has made saving limbs his number one priority. One of my messages that I really am passionate about and want to get out there is limb salvage. I want every physician that does peripheral vascular disease to focus on that some day. I want them to start paying more attention to saving a limb, even if it takes 2-3 hours of their time, even if they have to do it over and over again. The data supports the fact that you need to keep those limbs on. Now, if it gets to a point that there's nothing you can do, fine. When you get there, you deal with that. But, I am sure, with today's technology and technical skills that a lot of physicians out there have, you can save a limb. Coronary artery disease refers to plaque buildup that causes blockages in arteries of the heart. This same disease can affect all blood vessels, not just the vessels that feed the heart and brain. Blockages in blood vessels of the arms, legs, feet, and organs like the kidneys, are referred to as peripheral vascular disease and have the same risk factors. The diabetes factor has played a major role in increasing the risk of coronary artery disease. And, actually, when you're talking about region, West Michigan, specifically an area called Muskegon, has the highest rate of amputation of lower extremities, such as legs. That goes along with a high incidence of coronary artery disease. And, actually, it's not just in Michigan. It's prevalent everywhere. Cardiovascular disease continues to be on the rise. It's been related to multiple factors- aging population, sedentary lifestyle, not eating properly, lack of exercise, some relate it to depression. So, there's multiple factors. He's been struggling with this for a while. It's extremely painful to touch. And, you can see here, he's got an ulcer that needs to heal. As plaque builds up in arteries, it reduces and sometimes completely blocks blood flow to vital areas. When blood flow is restricted, limbs and organs die. Advancements in the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease make it possible for interventional specialists like Dr. Mustapha to save limbs. Martha's been struggling with her peripheral vascular disease for a long period of time. When we met her, her foot heel was very diseased and she didn't have any flow from this point down- any straight flow. She had total occlusion of her vessels here. So, the first time we met her, we spent a long period of time to open one vessel, totally occluded vessel, that allowed nice, brisk flow into her foot. What you do see here- now it's bleeding. That's a good sign. And, this was extremely open, not healed ulcer. Considering, this is looking good. It's healing here very well, and transitional tissue is looking very good. So now, the second stage of the therapy for her, we're going to go back and open a second vessel. And now, she'll have two vessels run off to the foot, which will allow us to provide for her complete blood flow, and this will continue to heal. Martha's come a long way. She's done a great job. She's healed really well. And, these are the kind of cases that make it worthwhile. So, we'll let you get ready again, and we'll schedule you for the next procedure really soon, and we'll continue to make you feel better. It was nice to see you again. I am taking it upon myself, as a personal agenda, to one day eliminate, or at least reduce, the amputation by 50% or more in this country. Why? Because these poor patients that lose their legs, imagine what's going to happen next- they're going to die. It depends on the age. If you're 60-70 years old, and you lose your leg, you're going to become basically bed bound. Dr. Mustapha as an interventional cardiologist is trained in the technique of non-invasive catheterization as a way to treat peripheral vascular disease. This method of treatment makes it possible to clear even 100% blocked vessels, under light sedation, for immediate results. Using a device that can best be described as a roto-router for the arteries, the diamond back catheter chips away rock hard calcifications to achieve blood flow. Spending time with Dr. Mustapha at Metro Health Hospital, you get the sense of how many lives he has changed. We have 32 patients that were scheduled for amputation. They were set to go for amputations. They came to us as second opinion. We've saved every leg. For more information about Dr. Mustapha, and the Metro Health Limb Salvage Clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan, please log on to http://www.ask-the-specialist.com/