Gigi Mazzola, executive director of the Cardiovascular Foundation of Southeast TX, introduced her father, Dr. Rodolfo P. Sotolongo, an Interventional Cardiologist and the President of Southeast Texas Cardiology Associates, Vascular Center & Vein Clinic of Beaumont, TX. Dr. Sotolongo has been in practice in Southeast Texas since 1982. He founded and served as the Medical Director of the Southeast Texas Clinical Research Center, from 1998 to 2020. Dr. Sotolongo is a Cuban refugee who became a U.S. citizen in 1970. He attended the University of Santiago, Spain, and received fellowships and completed residencies at prestigious institutions such as the Baylor College of Medicine and the Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Sotolongo remarked that it was a joy to be able to work with his daughter in the area of cardiovascular health and noted that he was privileged to share information and data with the Rotary Club of Beaumont. Dr. Sotolongo used slides to illustrate his talk about PAD, Peripheral Arterial Disease—also known as hardening of the arteries—that afflicts 8-12 million people in the United States and results in around 150,000 amputations a year due to CLI, Critical Limb Ischemia. He noted that amputations increase mortality as equal to, or worse than, most cancers and lamented that unnecessary amputations are the result of a lack of awareness, a wrong he has passionately sought to right. Indeed, 70% of those suffering an amputation died within two years of that amputation. Dr. Sotolongo indicated that factors such as hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and hyperthyroidism were powerful factors for PDI—but he emphasized smoking as a major risk factor.

Dr. Sotolongo introduced a shocking fact: less than half of the patients who endured an amputation had zero consultations with a vascular specialist like him. In addition, fewer than 50% of amputees did not even receive an Angiogram. Furthermore, those patients scheduled for amputation would have had a 95% chance of NOT having to have had an amputation if they had had a consultation. Even more shocking and eye opening was the revelation that most patients did (and do) not receive annual screenings by their physicians. Dr. Sotolongo noted that physicians generally do not ask patients to take off their socks and shoes to check for pulses or blood pressure in the arm, ankle, and thigh. A simple five-minute screening test can prevent unnecessary amputations and preserve a person’s dignity.

Dr. Sotolongo skipped over a few slides showing color pictures of arterial ulcers in respect of lunchtime and presented several case studies. He discussed the beneficial use of CO2 gas to increase blood flow in the lower extremities and that its use was superior to the use of contrast dye which can damage diabetic kidneys. With these and other procedures, Dr. Sotolongo has been able to cure desert foot through venous arterialization or the flipping of a vein. This procedure can be done on an outpatient basis.

Dr. Sotolongo answered several questions and concluded by reiterating that amputations are frequently unnecessary and hopefully his talk has increased awareness among Rotarians. Arrange a vascular consultation first; cut last, or never. In conclusion, Dr. Sotolongo noted that he completed a procedure in the morning before coming to Rotary. Rotarians were clearly appreciative of a talk that created awareness to unnecessary procedures that have wide-ranging and long-lasting ramifications.