New hope for Britons at risk of amputation due to blood vessel disease trends now
View
comments
People at risk of losing limbs from severe blood flow problems could be spared life-changing amputation thanks to a revolutionary treatment.
The new procedure, called LimFlow, treats a type of blood vessel disease called critical limb ischaemia, where blockages in the arteries cut off the blood supply to the legs and feet.
The condition – which is usually caused by lifestyle factors –severely affects mobility, and each year in the UK about 5,000 people have to undergo amputation.
But a US study shows that with LimFlow, three-quarters of patients get to keep their legs.
About 30 NHS patients have already received the treatment as part of an ongoing trial, in which surgeons insert small tubes into the leg which divert the blood flow around the blockages to return supply to the foot. While
