Tampa General Hospital's Limb Preservation and Complex Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Program in the Heart & Vascular Institute unites multiple specialists to provide comprehensive care for people with complex peripheral arterial disease (PAD), chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), non-healing wounds and other conditions that put a limb at risk. As the first and only multispecialty program of its kind in the region, we combine advanced vascular expertise, wound care, podiatry, infectious disease, plastic surgery and other specialties to deliver coordinated, evidence-based care under one roof.
If you have recently been diagnosed, have a wound that isn't healing or have been told amputation may be necessary, our team will identify the underlying cause of your condition and develop a personalized treatment plan. Through advanced technologies, innovative procedures and access to clinical trials, we focus on preserving limbs whenever possible while restoring function, improving quality of life and supporting you through every stage of care.
What Sets TGH Apart?
TGH has been recognized as #1 in Tampa Bay for Heart & Vascular Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-27, and the Limb Preservation and Complex PAD Program offers a level of coordinated, specialized care that isn't available anywhere else in the region. Experts from multiple specialties evaluate each patient and develop a personalized treatment plan focused on preserving limbs, promoting function and improving long-term health.
Patients also benefit from access to advanced therapies and technologies that may not be available in many community settings, including minimally invasive procedures, novel devices and clinical trials evaluating emerging treatments for PAD. Every treatment plan is guided by the latest evidence and best practices, ensuring patients receive the most effective care available.
For patients traveling from across Florida and beyond, our integrated program enables them to see multiple specialists, undergo diagnostic testing and coordinate treatment through a single team, reducing delays in care and helping patients begin treatment sooner. From diagnosis through recovery, a dedicated nurse navigator and program coordinator guide each patient through every step of the journey.
Wound Clinic for Advanced Care
At the Wound Clinic, our specialists do more than treat wounds. We identify and address the underlying condition preventing them from healing. This helps us to develop a more effective treatment plan and reduce the risk of complications and limb loss, even for patients whose wounds have not healed with previous treatment elsewhere.
Patients may enter the program early in the disease process or after unsuccessful treatment elsewhere. Because the Wound Clinic is fully integrated within the limb preservation program, patients have convenient access to advanced diagnostics, vascular interventions, infectious disease treatment and specialty care, all through one coordinated team. This collaborative approach helps streamline treatment, improve healing and preserve limb function whenever possible.
Our wound care services include:
- Comprehensive wound assessment and treatment planning
- Advanced wound care therapies and dressings
- Management of diabetic, ischemic and venous ulcers
- Infection control in collaboration with infectious disease specialists
- Coordination with vascular, podiatry and plastic surgery teams for optimal healing
Conditions Treated
We diagnose and treat a wide range of vascular conditions, diabetic foot complications and complex wounds that can threaten function and viability of an arm or leg, including:
- Peripheral arterial disease with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), including non-healing wounds and ischemic rest pain
- Acute limb ischemia
- Diabetic foot infections and neuropathic ulcers
- Non-healing wounds and ulcerations of the lower extremities
- Ischemic ulcers
- Venous ulcers
- Peripheral aneurysms
- Complications following previous vascular procedures, including failed stents or bypass grafts, infected vascular grafts and pseudoaneurysms
- Chronic post-amputation residual limb pain
Testing & Diagnostics
Accurate assessment is the foundation of effective limb preservation. Our team performs comprehensive evaluations to determine the underlying cause of the condition and develop the most appropriate treatment plan. Patients can often see multiple specialists and complete much of their evaluation in a single visit, reducing delays in diagnosis, accelerating treatment planning and receiving care tailored to their unique needs.
Depending on symptoms and medical history, an evaluation may include a physical examination, a review of prior imaging and procedures and advanced vascular testing performed in our on-site vascular laboratory. Our specialists assess blood flow, wound characteristics, infection, nerve function and other contributing factors to diagnose conditions.
Our diagnostic capabilities include:
- Comprehensive wound assessments
- Arterial vascular testing
- Venous vascular testing
- Evaluation for infection and diabetic foot complications
- Review of previous vascular interventions and imaging
- Coordination of additional specialty consultations and diagnostic testing, as needed
Treatment Options
Every patient's condition is different, which is why limb preservation and PAD treatment is tailored to the underlying cause of the disease, the severity of symptoms and each individual's goals. Our multispecialty team combines advanced vascular interventions, specialized wound care and coordinated medical management to preserve limbs whenever possible while restoring mobility and quality of life.
Treatment options may include:
- Medical therapy to improve circulation and manage peripheral arterial disease
- Endovascular procedures to restore blood flow, including advanced minimally invasive techniques such as intravascular lithotripsy, drug-coated balloons, absorbable scaffolds and computer-aided vacuum-assisted suction thrombectomy
- Surgical revascularization, including percutaneous leg bypass procedures when appropriate
- Deep venous arterialization (DVA) for select patients with severe chronic limb-threatening ischemia who have “no-option” disease
- Advanced wound care for diabetic foot ulcers, ischemic ulcers, venous ulcers and neuropathic wounds
- Infection management in collaboration with infectious disease specialists
- Reconstructive procedures performed with plastic surgery specialists
- Orthotic and offloading strategies to promote wound healing and preserve mobility
- Targeted muscle reinnervation and innovative devices for chronic post-amputation pain management
Every treatment plan is guided by the latest clinical evidence and best practices. When appropriate, eligible patients may also participate in clinical trials evaluating promising new medications, devices and treatment approaches before they become widely available.
Our Team
The program is led by a dedicated core team of specialists who collaborate closely to optimize patient outcomes and prevent limb loss.
Team members include specialists in:
- Vascular Surgery: Experts in open, endovascular and hybrid revascularization techniques, as well as in-office vascular procedures, for both routine and complex peripheral arterial disease.
- Podiatry: Specialists in diabetic foot care, biomechanics, reconstructive surgery and advanced wound management.
- Infectious Disease: Management of complex infections and antimicrobial therapy.
- Plastic Surgery: Advanced reconstruction, soft tissue coverage and limb salvage procedures, as well as advanced techniques to manage chronic post-amputation residual limb pain.
In addition, the program partners with primary care providers, cardiology, endocrinology, rehabilitation services, case management and prosthetics/orthotics specialists as needed to provide complete, coordinated care.
Support Services
Limb preservation extends beyond procedures and wound healing. At Tampa General Hospital, we provide comprehensive support services to help patients navigate every stage of their care, from diagnosis and treatment through recovery and long-term management.
A dedicated nurse navigator and program coordinator serve as the primary point of contact, coordinating appointments, answering questions and connecting patients with the appropriate specialists and resources. Our team also works closely with referring physicians and other providers to ensure seamless communication throughout a patient’s care journey.
Support services may include:
- Diabetes education and referrals to endocrinology for blood sugar management
- Smoking cessation resources
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation referrals
- Pain management services, including treatment for chronic and phantom limb pain when appropriate
- Psychological and emotional support
- Community resources and peer support
Post-Amputation Support
When limb preservation is no longer possible, our commitment to care does not end. We continue to support patients after amputation with:
- Coordinated rehabilitation
- Prosthetic planning and guidance from prosthetic lab representatives
- Pain management and ongoing follow-up
- Access to an amputation support group
Throughout every stage of the journey, our team remains dedicated to helping patients maximize mobility and independence to improve quality of life.
Research & Clinical Trials
As Florida’s premier academic health system™, Tampa General Hospital is committed to advancing the future of limb preservation through research and innovation. Eligible patients may have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials evaluating new medications, medical devices and minimally invasive treatments for PAD and other complex vascular conditions prior to mainstream adoption.
Our physicians participate in national and NIH-supported clinical trials focused on improving blood flow, preserving limbs, restoring mobility and reducing the risk of amputation.
Current research includes studies such as:
- MAGICAL BTK, which is evaluating a new drug-coated balloon designed to improve blood flow in the small arteries below the knee.
- IMPACT-PAD, an NIH-sponsored study that is studying ways to improve walking endurance, physical function and quality of life for people living with PAD using home-based exercise and nitrate-rich beetroot juice.
- LEADER-PAD, an NIH-supported study investigating whether a medication can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, severe limb ischemia and major amputation in people with PAD.
- GORE VBX FORWARD, which is evaluating and comparing a balloon-expandable covered stent to bare-metal stenting approaches for iliac artery disease.
- STRIDE II, which is evaluating a computer-aided vacuum-assisted aspiration thrombectomy device designed to remove blood clots and improve outcomes for patients with acute lower-extremity limb ischemia.
Participation in a clinical trial is always voluntary. If you're eligible, your care team will explain the study, answer your questions and help you decide whether participation is right for you.
What to Expect
From your first appointment through recovery, the limb preservation program at Tampa General Hospital is designed to provide coordinated, patient-centered care. Our team helps streamline the evaluation and treatment process, ensuring you receive timely access to the specialists, testing and therapies you need.
Your care journey may include:
- Referral or appointment request: You may be referred by a physician or hospital. Alternatively, you can contact the program directly to schedule an evaluation.
- Personalized care coordination: A dedicated nurse navigator and program coordinator will help schedule appointments, answer questions and guide you through each step of the process.
- Comprehensive multispecialty evaluation: You'll meet with the specialists best suited to your needs, which may include experts in vascular surgery, wound care, podiatry and others. Your team will review your medical history, prior imaging and treatments while determining whether additional testing is needed.
- Individualized treatment planning: Based on your evaluation, your care team will develop a personalized treatment plan that may include advanced wound care, medical management, minimally invasive procedures, surgery or participation in a clinical trial, if appropriate.
- Coordinated treatment and recovery: If an intervention is recommended, our team will expedite pre-procedure testing and scheduling while coordinating your care throughout treatment.
- Ongoing follow-up and long-term support: After treatment, you'll continue to receive coordinated follow-up care to monitor healing, manage your vascular health and reduce the risk of future complications. Your care team will also communicate with your referring provider to ensure continuity of care.
Throughout every stage of your journey, our goal is to preserve limb function whenever possible, promote healing and help you return to the activities that matter most.
Become a Patient at TGH
If you have PAD, a non-healing wound, diabetic foot complications or another condition that may put a limb at risk, the specialists at Tampa General Hospital's Limb Preservation and Complex Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Program are here to help. Whether you've recently been diagnosed, have been referred by a physician or are seeking a second opinion after previous treatment, our multispecialty team is ready to evaluate your condition and develop a personalized care plan.
- To schedule an appointment or learn more about the Limb Preservation and Complex Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Program, call (813) 844-3900 or email LimbPreservation@tgh.org.
- To schedule an appointment or learn more about the Wound Clinic, call (813) 844-3900 or email LimbPreservation@tgh.org.
- To refer a patient, use this referral form.
Our team is committed to providing prompt care so you can begin treatment as quickly as possible.
