Colorado Vascular Associates is proud to share the story of a 67-year-old diabetic male patient who presented with right critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) and gangrene of the great toe, a serious condition in which severely reduced blood flow to the limb puts a patient at risk of amputation and permanent disability. Thanks to the skill and expertise of Dr. Danielle C. Smith, that patient has since healed and returned to his normal daily life.
The patient was admitted to the hospital and Dr. Smith was consulted on the case. He presented with a 100% occlusion of the anterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries, the exact vessels supplying blood flow to the angiosome responsible for wound healing in the affected area. Without restoring circulation through these specific arteries, healing the gangrenous toe would not have been possible and major amputation was a real risk.
On June 5th, Dr. Smith performed a successful revascularization of the right anterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries using Shockwave IVL and Serranator balloon angioplasty, restoring blood flow through the precise vessels needed to support healing.
The results speak for themselves. Following the revascularization, the patient’s great toe amputation site, performed by podiatry, healed completely. His pain resolved. And perhaps most importantly, he returned to his normal activity and daily life.
For a diabetic patient with gangrene and complete arterial occlusion, this outcome represents exactly what advanced, targeted vascular care can achieve. Rather than facing the prospect of a major limb amputation, this patient walked away healed.
“This patient came in with gangrene and a completely occluded artery. He left with his limb, no pain, and his life back. That’s the goal, every time,” said Dr. Danielle C. Smith, Colorado Vascular Associates.
