Deion Sanders courageously shared his struggles with a circulation issue that puts him at-risk of losing his foot in a video posted on social media. It may have been left on the editing room floor, but critical information about this circulation issue and treatment options to prevent amputation were not shared in the video or across other media covering this story. In this episode, hosts Emmy Award-winning Journalist Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips are joined by specialists trained in advanced treatment of this circulation known as peripheral artery disease (PAD) and its advanced stage critical limb ischemia CLI), a circulation issue characterized by narrowed or blocked arteries due to plaque such as blood clots and/or calcium, which can cause leg pain, leg cramps, non-healing wounds, and more.Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Jihad Mustapha, and Vascular Surgeons Dr. James Antezana and Dr. William Shutze talk about what you need to know about this circulation issue, which is one of the most debilitating diseases most have never heard of, yet impacts 3-in-5 heart attack sufferers, 1-in-5 over age 60, and 1-in-3diabetics (Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics) over the age of 50. Importantly, they'll share advances in treatment and amputation prevention as well as the standards of care patients should expect from their physicians treating it.

We have the Godfather of Interventional Cardiology Dr. John Simpson and world renowned Interventional Radiologist Dr. Lorenzo Patrone on to share the evolution of how physicians started using minimally invasive methods to unblock arteries in the legs and heart. You don't want to miss the incredible stories of how some of these physician-inventors used themselves as guinea pigs to further the science of saving life and limb.

Every year, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) is updated to determine the reimbursement rates for physicians. The powers that be decide which areas require more funding and which areas need to see a decrease in reimbursement to maintain budget neutrality. However, the latest reimbursement cuts have hit the "limb savers" hard, including vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and interventional radiologists, who provide amputation prevention services for patients, with a circulation issue known asperipheral artery disease (PAD), in community-based clinics known as office-based labs (OBLS). P.A.D. is a circulation issue that left untreated can lead to amputation. To prevent further amputations and disruptions in patient access to care, new bipartisan legislation has been introduced to stop ongoing cuts to office-based specialists for the next two years. The Cardiovascular Coalition's Dr. Paul Gagne and Dr. Daniel Nathanson, both vascular surgeons, talk about why this new legislation is critical to save life and limb.

Thomas loves working with people and his job as a casino supervisor kept him on his feet his entire eight hour shift. But peripheral artery disease, which is plaque buildup in mainly the leg arteries, was slowing him down and putting his job in jeopardy. So, he trusted his vascular surgeons to perform whatever procedure was needed to keep him on his feet. But he didn't know the advances in treatment for PAD and that minimally invasive options were available until complications occurred following an invasive bypass procedure. He reached out to a PAD advocacy organization called, The Way To My Heart, and they informed him of innovative, minimally invasive options. But it was too late for those as the complication at that point from the previous invasive bypass procedure led to an infection of the bypass graft and incision site. His incision site blossomed like a flower and needed immediate care. Dr. David Allie, a cardio thoracic surgeon,who specializes in advanced PAD care, and has advanced wound care experience with his involvement with various breaking studies, offered new options to save his leg from amputation. Dr. Allie and Thomas share this incredible journey to get him back on his feet for good.Thomas loves working with people and his job as a casino supervisor kept him on his feet his entire eight hour shift. But peripheral artery disease, which is plaque buildup in mainly the leg arteries, was slowing him down and putting his job in jeopardy. So, he trusted his vascular surgeons to perform whatever procedure was needed to keep him on his feet. But he didn't know the advances in treatment for PAD and that minimally invasive options were available until complications occurred following an invasive bypass procedure. He reached out to a PAD advocacy organization called, The Way To My Heart, and they informed him of innovative, minimally invasive options. But it was too late for those as the complication at that point from the previous invasive bypass procedure led to an infection of the bypass graft and incision site. His incision site blossomed like a flower and needed immediate care. Dr. David Allie, a cardio thoracic surgeon,who specializes in advanced PAD care, and has advanced wound care experience with his involvement with various breaking studies, offered new options to save his leg from amputation. Dr. Allie and Thomas share this incredible journey to get him back on his feet for good.