Andrew Reed

Andrew Reed always loved working. The Quincy, Fla., native spent his entire career with the Florida Department of Corrections, rising to the rank of captain at Apalachee Correctional in nearby Sneads, Fla. So, when Andrew retired from his job, he expected to work around the house while spending more time with his wife, Cynthia, his three children and seven grandchildren. However, when he began to experience complications related to diabetes, his life and retirement changed in ways he could not have imagined – including putting his leg at risk for amputation.

A Shocking Diagnosis

After years of trying to manage diabetes with medication and lifestyle changes, Andrew had a heart attack in 2019, requiring bypass surgery. Over time, he also developed kidney disease related to the diabetes. Eventually, the kidney disease became so significant that Andrew had to start dialysis and was placed on the transplant list.

As if that wasn’t enough, life became more complicated when Cynthia noticed a dark spot on Andrew’s toe in 2023.

By the time they saw Andrew’s podiatrist, his toe had gotten worse, and the podiatrist referred him to Andres M. Vargas Estrada, MD, an interventional cardiologist at TMH Physician Partners, Services by Southern Medical Group – Cardiology.

“The toe had already turned dark,” Cynthia explained. “So, when we went to see Dr. Vargas – in the midst of him trying to save the toe – he found that all of the arteries [in Andrew’s leg] were clogged.”

LimFlow Rescues Andrew’s Leg

Dr. Vargas determined that Andrew had critical limb ischemia, a severe condition from late-stage peripheral artery disease that can lead to gangrene, amputation and even death.

Unless blood flow could be restored to Andrew’s leg, he was at risk for amputation, which comes with its own potential complications. Even worse – because he had critical limb ischemia, Andrew was removed from the organ transplant list for a new kidney.  

“We were able to determine that Mr. Reed had significant blockages from the accumulation of plaque in his leg that were cutting off his leg’s blood supply,” said Dr. Vargas. “In most cases like this, the unfortunate result is amputation. However, we now have the option of LimFlow here at TMH for patients who had no other option before.”

Dr. Vargas identified Andrew as a candidate for the LimFlow System. In November 2023, Andrew became the the third patient in the nation, and first in the region, to undergo LimFlow outside of a clinical trial.

“When they told us that about all of the blockage and that they would probably have to ampuate, Andrew and I both got very emotional,” said Cynthia. “After everything we had already been through, being taken off the transplant list, and now possibly losing his leg, Andrew went into a deep depression and I just tried to keep him motivated.”

The Reeds were apprenhensive about trying a new procedure that had never been done at TMH before, but after talking with their children about it, they decided it was a risk they were willing to take to save Andrew’s leg.

The LimFlow System is designed to re-establish blood flow in deep veins. Through this revolutionary procedure, Dr. Vargas, joined by Robert Heidepriem, MD, John Katopodis, MD and the Tallahassee Memorial Cath Lab team, connected an artery in Andrew’s calf to a vein near his foot to restore blood flow. 

Using LimFlow, the team moved arterial and venous catheters through the blood vessels next to each other. Then, after creating an opening between the artery and the neighboring vein, they used a stent to create a channel from the artery to the vein, allowing blood to return unhindered to Andrew’s foot.

Time to Heal

Although the LimFlow procedure was successful, Andrew was not immediately out of the woods.

“Post-surgery was a long process,” Cynthia said. “Andrew was having a lot of pain [from the pre-existing foot wound]. It was hard for the side of his foot to heal.”

That’s when Andrew was introduced to the TMH Wound Care team, led by Joseph Mazziotta, MD. In coordination with Dr. Heidepriem, the talented vascular surgeon that assisted in his LimFlow operation, the Wound Care team worked together to prepare a treatment plan for Andrew to ensure successful outcomes.

“Our team of specialists, nurses and other professionals did an outstanding job working with Mr. Reed to determine the best treatment to help him heal and to execute that plan with some of the most state-of-the-art treatment options available, including wound management and hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” Dr. Mazziotta said. “We were very pleased to see that those plans and treatments were ultimately quite successful.”

‘Blessed’ to Get Back to Living

With the help of LimFlow and the Wound Care team, Andrew avoided amputation and is well on the road to recovery.

Andrew has improved so much since the surgery, he has even recently been able to start driving again. And because LimFlow was able to save Andrew’s leg, he is also in the process of applying to be back on the kidney transplant list.

“Being taken off the transplant list was really hard for Andrew and I,” Cynthia explained. “So for him to be at this point now, where he is doing so well and we can possibly get him back on the list, it’s just so much more hopeful for us.”

Cynthia and Andrew are thankful for his care team at TMH.

“They are awesome – the very best. They were just so kind and patient with my husband and so attentive.”

To others, Cynthia offers some advice – “Go to the doctor regularly. Get checked. And if you are ever in a position where they have to offer you LimFlow – really, really consider it, because I feel like it saved my husband’s leg. He’s doing wonderful now, but to save his whole leg? We’re blessed. He is blessed.”

If you think you may benefit from a LimFlow procedure or other vascular interventional surgery, please discuss it with your primary care provider and request a referral to the TMH Vascular Surgery Navigator.

Learn more about the region’s most advanced heart and vascular program at TMH.ORG/Heart.