The University Health Cardiovascular Center has launched a new Limb Salvage Clinic at the Texas Diabetes Institute to address the increasing problem of limb loss in South Texas. This initiative brings together cardiovascular and podiatric specialists to provide coordinated care for patients at high risk of amputation, particularly those with diabetes.
In Bexar County, approximately 15% of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, which is higher than both the Texas state average of 12% and the national average of just over 11%. In the Rio Grande Valley, diabetes rates reach up to 30%. Dr. Michael Sobolevsky, a podiatrist at the Texas Diabetes Institute, described South Texas as “the diabetic foot capital of the world.”
Diabetes can cause vascular complications that increase the risk for amputations. High blood sugar may reduce blood flow to legs and feet, leading to peripheral arterial disease (PAD), infections, tissue damage, and ulcers that may require amputation if not treated early. It also increases plaque buildup in blood vessels, raising risks for coronary artery disease.
The clinic aims to offer comprehensive care by detecting and treating limb-threatening conditions early while also addressing overall cardiovascular health. Many patients face multiple health issues such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease or heart failure alongside diabetes.
Dr. Anand Prasad serves as founding director of both the University Health Cardiovascular Center and the Limb Salvage Clinic. He is an interventional cardiologist board-certified in vascular medicine with experience in wound care and hyperbaric medicine. “We are assembling some of the best clinicians in the country to attack an enormous medical need in South Texas. We’ll have access to the best technology and resources for our patients. As interventional cardiologists, we specialize in restoring blood flow. Our team includes other cardiologists, podiatrists, wound care specialists, vascular surgeons and rehabilitation therapists who each play a role in providing the best therapies for our patients,” Dr. Prasad said.
Dr. Sobolevsky emphasized his team’s dedication: “By combining cardiology’s ability to restore blood flow with podiatry’s expertise in wound care and foot health, we’re offering patients the best chance to keep their limbs and maintain their quality of life,” he said.
Dr. Lyssa Ochoa is CEO and President of SAVE: The San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinic. She is a board-certified vascular surgeon focused on advanced vascular care for people with diabetes in South Texas since 2011.
Initially based at the Texas Diabetes Institute—a major center for diabetes research—plans call for expanding limb preservation services to other University Health locations including Palo Alto Hospital on San Antonio’s South Side when it opens in 2027.
