The South Texas Health System Limb Salvage & Amputation Prevention Program Providing No Cost Screenings

To commemorate PAD Awareness Month, STHS Edinburg will provide free Doppler screenings to help assess blow flow and identify blockages, clots or other issues of the arteries and veins of the arms and legs

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a serious health condition that can lead to significant health complications, even amputation and death, if left untreated.

A vascular condition where the arteries in the legs, pelvic area or arms become narrowed or blocked, usually due to plaque buildup, PAD affects around 21 million adults age 40 and older in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the prevalence of PAD is increasing in the U.S. due to the nation’s aging population, increased rates and diabetes, which are major risk factors for PAD, and a lack of awareness of the life-threatening disease and its symptoms, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment.

“Symptoms like leg pain when walking, numbness or slow-healing wounds can be subtle or absent in the early stages of PAD, leading to delayed care,” says Ofsman E. Quintana, MD, FACC, a board-certified interventional cardiologist who serves as the medical director of the South Texas Health System Limb Salvage & Amputation Prevention Program. “Early diagnosis and treatment of PAD are critical because they can help slow disease progression, prevent serious complications like amputation, heart attack and stroke, reduce a patient’s long-term cardiovascular risk and protect their quality of life by preserving mobility and function.”

Timely interventions, which can include lifestyle changes, medications and procedures that help improve blood flow, are vital to preventing severe forms of PAD like chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), which may require amputation to treat.

To provide important education to Rio Grande Valley residents about the dangers of PAD and help them determine if they’re at risk for the condition this PAD Awareness Month, the STHS Limb Salvage & Amputation Prevention will be providing no-cost Doppler screenings in the main lobby of STHS Edinburg on Tuesday, September 23, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Using sound waves to assess blood flow speed and direction, identifying blockages and narrowing caused by plaque buildup in arteries, Doppler screening is crucial for PAD diagnosis. The non-invasive and accurate method enables early detection, which is vital for preventing severe complications associated with PAD.

“By analyzing the sound waves, the device can create a graph that reveals blood flow, which divulges areas of reduced blood flow, indicating narrowing or blockages caused by plaque,” says Dr. Quintana. “A Doppler screening can detect PAD at an early stage when lifestyle changes and medical interventions are most effective. For those with PAD, it can assess the severity of the condition, allowing clinicians to develop appropriate care plans, which may include conservative measures or procedures like angioplasty.”

The free Doppler screenings will be available to the public with no need to pre-register. Simply stop by the main lobby to get your screening. For additional details, call the STHS Marketing Department at (956) 388-2033.

No-cost Doppler screenings will also be offered later in the day, during the STHS Limb Salvage & Amputation Prevention Program’s Step Out PAD Walkathon, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., at the STHS Edinburg campus. For details on the event, visit the STHS Facebook Events page.

For more information on the STHS Limb Salvage & Amputation Prevention Program, visit www.southtexashealthsystemedinburg.com.

About South Texas Health System

South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.