A team from Rashid Hospital’s vascular department saved a patient’s left leg from being amputated after suffering from paralyses and showing early signs of gangrene due to several clots blocking the arteries of her leg.
The Head of the Vascular Surgery Unit at Rashid Hospital, Dr Dina Al Qudra, who conducted the surgery along with vascular specialist Dr Alaa Al Nwaidati, said that after conducting the needed tests, the results revealed that the patient suffered from severe blockage of the arteries in her left leg and interruption of blood circulation.
Dr Al Qudra said an endovascular surgery was done to remove the clots that were blocking the arteries, however they were not effective because of the severity of the clots, which became connected with the artery walls. The team then resorted to using a substance to dissolve the blood clots based on international medical practices in the field.
However the wanted result, to remove the clots, was not achieved, which meant that they had to conduct a surgery as a last option before having to resort to amputating her leg as a life-saving measure.
During the two-and-a-halfhour surgery, Dr Al Qudra said the team exerted all efforts to successfully open the arteries and remove the clotting.
The surgery was a success and the pulse and blood flow returned to her leg and she was able to walk again after three weeks of physiotherapy. Dr Al Qudra expressed her happiness with the outcome of the surgery, especially as the patient had signed before the surgery her approval for amputation of her leg as a last medical resort to save her life.
She added that this was a testimonial to Rashid Hospital’s advanced capabilities in treating all patients in line with the best international standards. The 40-year-old Filipina patient thanked the doctors for the exceptional treatment and care she received.
Critical limb ischaemia
Critical limb ischaemia (CLI) is a severe blockage in the arteries of the lower extremities, which markedly reduces blood flow. It is a serious form of peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, but less common than claudication, a cramping pain brought on by exercise. PAD is caused by atherosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of the arteries over time due to the buildup of fatty deposits called plaque.
CLI is a chronic condition that results in severe pain in the feet or toes, even while resting. Complications of poor circulation can include sores and wounds that won’t heal in the legs and feet. Left untreated, the complications will result in amputation of the affected limb.
Symptoms
- The most prominent features of CLI are called ischaemic rest pain — severe pain in the legs and feet while a person is not moving, or non-healing sores on the feet or legs. Pain or numbness in the feet
- Shiny, smooth, dry skin of the legs or feet
- Thickening of the toenails
- Absent or diminished pulse in the legs or feet
- Open sores, skin infections or ulcers that will not heal
- Dry gangrene (dry, black skin) of the legs or feet