Baptist Health Paducah offers new minimally invasive treatment for patients at risk for amputation

PADUCAH, KY (July 9, 2025) – Baptist Health Paducah is now the first hospital and only in the region to offer a new, minimally invasive procedure for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), especially for those who cannot be treated with standard surgical procedures.

“LimFlow is a new procedure that allows us to treat certain patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease that otherwise have to resort to amputation,” said vascular surgeon Alex Sapp, MD with Baptist Health Medical Group Vascular Surgery. “This innovative technology is another great minimally invasive option that we provide here at Baptist Health to help with limb preservation.”

CLTI, or chronic limb-threatening ischemia, is the most advanced stage of peripheral artery disease. In this condition, the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the legs become severely blocked. This can cause intense pain both while moving and at rest, limit mobility, and lead to ulcers, wounds that won’t heal, tissue death, gangrene, and in many cases, amputation.

During the LimFlow procedure, the surgeon makes two small incisions, one in the groin to access the tibial artery, and one in the foot to access a deep vein. Catheters are inserted into the vessels and threaded through the body to an area above the blockage, typically in the calf area. Specialized instruments bridge from the artery to the vein, and the opening is widened using a balloon catheter.

While a patient’s blood flow through the vein to the lower leg and foot begins immediately, ongoing monitoring and care of non-healing wounds must be maintained while revascularization takes place, typically over six to 12 weeks.

“About two-thirds of patients participating in the Promise II study, which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of deep vein arterialization and the LimFlow system, were amputation free after 6 months,” said Craig Beavers, Vice President of Operations at Baptist Health Paducah. “Following the procedure, wounds were completely healed in 25% of patients and 51% of patients were in the process of healing.”

LimFlow was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2023. About 12% of the U.S. population suffers from CLTI, and most patients with CLTI also have cardiovascular disease. The incidence of CLTI is growing across the U.S. as the population ages and rates of diabetes and arterial sclerosis increase.

The LimFlow procedure is performed by Baptist Health Medical Group vascular surgeons Dr. Alex Sapp and Dr. Griffin Bicking.

If you have peripheral artery disease, non-healing wounds, or CLTI and would like to know more about LimFlow, call Baptist Health Medical Group Vascular Surgery at 270.415.4802.

New patients are welcome; a provider referral is not required.