How Access to Specialists Across UnityPoint Health Saved a Man's Foot

Dick Southwick was experiencing unbearable foot pain he attributed to another health issue. He didn't know the real culprit was a blocked artery in his leg until his cardiologist recommended UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, St. Luke’s Vascular Surgery. That recommendation proved life changing.

Southwick traveled from his home in Moline, Illinois, to obtain the specialized care he needed for his leg.

"I didn’t realize I had a blockage," Southwick says. “I had a wound in my foot that wasn’t healing, because it wasn’t getting circulation.”

Vascular surgeon David Lawrence, MD recommended, and soon after performed, a leg bypass using a donor vein, also addressing additional blockages that needed attention.

“We removed hard, calcified plaque in the femoral artery in the groin to prepare it for the bypass,” Dr. Lawrence says

“In addition, Mr. Southwick had a blockage in his iliac artery, which brings blood through the pelvis to the leg. We placed a stent in that artery to optimize the inflow of blood to his leg.”

The ability to perform both open bypass and stenting in one setting is a hallmark of St. Luke’s advanced vascular care.

“I could tell the difference right away,” Southwick says. “I was walking within two hours of the surgery and felt great.”

A Setback and a Save: Addressing a Second Blockage

Unfortunately, a few months later, Southwick’s clot and pain were back.The bypass graft developed a blockage. This time, he was at serious risk of losing his foot.

Dr. Lawrence performed another procedure using angioplasty and a special catheter to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow — saving Southwick’s limb.

“We take pictures of the graft to determine what caused the blockage and treat it to reduce the risk of it happening again,” Dr. Lawrence says.

Leg pain, even when resting, is a serious sign. It's called critical limb ischemia, and it's different from blockages that only hurt when you're active. Unhealing sores on the foot, or even gangrene on the tip of the toe, are also signs.

Dr. Lawrence says it’s important to control risk factors, especially ‘the big four.’ These include family history, diabetes, cholesterol and tobacco use.

From Debilitating Foot Pain to Active Living

Feeling great, Southwick is now back in action. He recently split firewood, something he couldn't do before his procedure, and is looking forward to gardening and creating his massive metal sculptures again.

“I couldn’t be happier with the care I received and the results,” Southwick says. “I had a feeling of confidence from my first meeting with Dr. Lawrence. I was impressed with St. Luke’s facility, their staff and the communication. Dr. Lawrence was in touch with my local doctors all along. It was an all-around good experience.”

Patients in the Cedar Rapids area — and beyond, like Southwick, — now have greater access to advanced vascular care at UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids. The hospital recently opened a new vascular and interventional radiology (IR) space, featuring state-of-the-art labs and a third vascular surgeon. This expansion supports services like imaging, biopsies, aneurysm repair and revascularization (restoring blood flow to blocked vessels).

To consult with a vascular surgeon, ask your primary care provider for a referral to visit with a UnityPoint Health specialist.