Limb preservation as an alternative to amputation

If your doctor has recommended limb removal surgery because of peripheral artery disease (PAD), know that you may have other options.

Our Limb Preservation Clinic experts offer advanced procedures and treatments as an alternative to amputation. Our surgical experts are here to help you preserve your limb and prevent limb loss.

What is limb preservation?

Limb preservation is an approach focused on preventing limb loss when you're facing a limb-threatening condition that could cause you to have an amputation.

At Advocate Health, our goal is amputation prevention whenever possible. That means using the latest treatments and technology to improve blood circulation, heal wounds and preserve the function of your limb.

Why is limb preservation done?

When you have PAD, narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow, causing pain, slow-healing wounds or ulcers. If left untreated, this can lead to serious complications such as gangrene, tissue damage and eventually amputation. That’s when limb-sparing surgery becomes an option. 

If treatments such as medication, lifestyle changes, angioplasty or stents haven’t worked, limb preservation surgery may help. By preventing amputations, we're also helping you avoid the physical, emotional and financial impact that comes with losing a limb.

To help you avoid amputation, our experienced surgeons at the Limb Preservation Clinic use the most advanced therapies and limb preservation surgery to restore blood flow to your limb.  

About Advocate’s Limb Preservation Clinic

The Limb Preservation Clinic was founded by Dr. Jaafer Golzar, one of the leading endovascular physicians and limb preservation experts in the country. Our nationally recognized program has helped dramatically reduce amputation rates for people with peripheral artery disease. 

At our clinic, you’ll have access to the newest technologies and the latest innovations that come from our participation in pivotal research trials within vascular medicine.

Why choose Advocate Heart Institute for limb preservation surgery?

At Advocate Heart Institute, you can feel confident with our expert heart and vascular care. Together, our large, multidisciplinary team of specialists offer unmatched experience, quality, teamwork and technology.

• Experience: We have one of the top cardiac and vascular programs in the U.S. Our teams perform more than 20,000 procedures every year and have experience with all types of procedures and all types of conditions.
• Quality: Our safety-first culture permeates everything we do. We participate in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry that benchmarks our outcomes against other programs. Our high ratings mean fewer complications and better results.
• Teamwork: Our team of specialists works together to develop a customized treatment plan that’s right for you.
• Technology: We offer the latest programs and treatments that you may not elsewhere. Technology changes rapidly, and we continuously upgrade our equipment and learn the latest, most advanced techniques in limb preservation surgery. And we participate in cutting-edge research and clinical trials to ensure access to the newest innovations.

Services offered at Advocate Heart Institute

• Limb preservation procedures for patients who have previously been advised to consider amputation for chronic wounds or gangrene
• Atherectomy
• Drug eluting stent
• Pedal access procedures
• Minimally invasive, percutaneous bypass (PTAB)
• Direct venous arterialization (DVA)
• Minimally invasive treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
• Venous ablation for the treatment of venous ulcers

Treatments for peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease is a complex disease and requires a multidisciplinary team to treat it. To help patients navigate the process and ensure all are cared for in a timely fashion, our limb preservation team is composed of providers from the following specialties:

• Vascular and endovascular surgery
• Interventional cardiology
• Supervised exercise therapy
• Podiatry
• Comprehensive wound care
• Vascular laboratory imaging
• Infectious disease

Meet the team

Advocate Trinity Hospital

Dr. Marlon Everett
Dr. Marco Shaker
Dr. Jaafer Golzar
Dr. Yousef Ayat
Kenisha Daniels, NP
Rachel Jachim, NP

Advocate South Suburban Hospital 

Dr. Abdullah Alrifai
Dr. Shadwan Alsafwa 

Advocate Christ Medical Center 

Dr. Thomas Levin
Dr. Yousef Ayat
Dr. Marco Shaker
Dr. Jaafer Golzar
Rachel Jachim NP
Edith Bosque, nurse
Rosalind Davis Toombs, nurse 

Other locations 

Alanna Wahl – Podiatry, Foot & Ankle Associates, Orland Park
Patrick Sanchez – Podiatry, Foot & Ankle Associates, Oak Lawn
Mark Keldahl – Advocate Medical Group Vascular Surgery, Chicago

Limb preservation locations

We are leaders in comprehensive peripheral vascular care with an extensive network of hospitals and wound care clinics where patients may receive care.

• Advocate Christ Medical Center
• Advocate Trinity Hospital
• Advocate South Suburban Hospital
• Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital (coming soon)