Hearing that you may need an amputation is frightening. It is fair and smart to ask whether every option has been looked at, especially whether blood flow to the leg can be improved. FCCI's Amputation Prevention Center was built around that question. FCCI's own cath lab page puts it simply: amputation should always be the last resort.
Why blood flow is the key question
Many amputations follow a wound that will not heal. Many wounds will not heal because blocked arteries are starving the tissue. If a vascular team can open those arteries, the wound may have a better chance. That is not a promise, but it is a question worth asking before a final decision.
What FCCI's center offers
FCCI describes its Amputation Prevention Center as the first of its kind, pairing board-certified cardiologists with wound care specialists.
- Its own outpatient catheterization lab
- Wound care management under one roof
- A focus on research
- Physicians dedicated to preventing amputation
How the evaluation works
The team uses testing to find blockages, then a cardiologist builds a personalized plan. In the cath lab, peripheral revascularization can use atherectomy devices, balloons and/or stents to restore flow. FCCI was the first in Northeast Florida to perform pedal access for chronic limb ischemia in 2008, an approach that reaches blockages through the foot.
Questions to bring
Write these down and bring a family member if you can.
- Has my blood flow been tested, and what did it show?
- Can the blocked arteries be opened?
- What happens to the wound if flow improves?
- What are the risks of waiting, and of each option?
Make the call
If a foot or leg is suddenly cold, numb or turning dark, call 911. Otherwise, do not wait long: time matters with wounds. Ask your doctor to share your records with FCCI, and call to request an evaluation.
Wound care and vascular care under one roof
FCCI keeps wound care specialists and board-certified cardiologists in the same practice. Testing checks for blocked arteries, and if flow is the problem, a cardiologist builds a plan to restore it. Options include hyperbaric oxygen, skin grafts, amniotic membrane therapies, early endovascular intervention and preventative surgery. Dr. David Swain, a podiatric surgeon board certified in Limb Preservation and Salvage, focuses on limb salvage and volunteers with A Leg Up: The Jacksonville Amputation Support Group.
A record of firsts in leg artery care
FCCI was first in Northeast Florida to use pedal access for chronic limb ischemia in 2008, and in 2013 it was among the first in Florida, with the University of Florida in Gainesville, to place drug-eluting stents in the legs. Dr. Vaqar Ali became Florida's first physician to perform Pantheris in 2016, aiming to cut amputations, and Dr. Yazan Khatib brought Shockwave IntraVascular Lithotripsy to Northeast Florida in 2018. Those mean more paths around stubborn blockages without big bypass surgery.
Practical details
The outpatient cath labs in Jacksonville (2007) and Palatka (2016) are accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, and FCCI has served the region since 2002. Most patients use Medicare, Tricare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Humana (with some exceptions) or another accepted plan, and the front desk can confirm yours.
If you have been given a date for surgery, call before it arrives. Bring any imaging, wound photos and the surgeon's notes you have. The number is 904.493.3333 (Orange Park 904.644.0092, Palatka 386.325.2836), or start on the booking page. This is general information and cannot weigh in on your case, and a foot that suddenly worsens or a fever means calling 911 or going to the ER.
