My Last Leg
A documentary that explores why so many patients fail in the fight to save their lives and limbs.
My Last Leg
A documentary that explores why so many patients fail in the fight to save their lives and limbs.
Film Overview
Peripheral artery disease is an under diagnosed epidemic in this country and its most severe form, critical limb ischemia, kills more people each year than many cancers. 50% of these patients die within 5 years and 85% of these amputations can be avoided. This does not need to be the case. Awareness and a multi-disciplinary team approach can save these lives and limbs.
WATCH FILM'S TRAILER
EPISODE 1 | AN EPIDEMIC
Genetics and lifestyle are making diabetes and PAD more prevalent. Many diabetics develop peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI). Once blood flow can’t be restored to the leg or foot, amputation is often required. However, 60% percent of amputations are performed without patients receiving a proper screening or without understanding what treatment options currently exist. What kind of treatment a patient receives is largely based on who they are referred to and their socioeconomic demographic.
EPISODE 2 | AN ENDOVASCULAR REVOLUTION
For years PAD & CLI have been under appreciated. Traditionally, vascular surgeons treated this disease with bypass surgery or amputation. However, new minimally-invasive technologies have emerged such as balloons, stents, lasers, and atherectomy. These technologies can now make the impossible, possible. However, there remains a shortage of qualified physicians who are true experts in using these innovative tools.
EPISODE 3 | A MULTI-DISCIPLINE SOLUTION
So what's the solution? Education and cooperation. Multidisciplinary programs must be built to better serve these patient populations. Patients must also become better advocates for themselves.
EPISODE 4 | WE CAN DO BETTER
We can save lives and limbs, but why aren’t we? We can do better. A lack of awareness, in-fighting, and financial pressures all contribute. Working together, we can solve this problem. Patients should never have to accept an amputation as a first frontline therapy.
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