Every year in Ontario, over 1,000 people lose a foot or leg to a vascular disease.
This year, however, Frank Scianitti wasn’t one of them.
“ We consider it a failure if we have to remove someone’s limb,” vascular surgeon Dr. William Johnson tells INsauga Canada.
Johnson, division head of vascular surgery and a vascular surgeon at William Osler Health System, the health organization that operates hospitals in Brampton and Toronto, told INsauga Canada that his team has worked – and continues to work – to save every leg and foot it can.
But while Johnson says technology has improved by leaps and bounds in Brampton and beyond, the cross-province statistics still tell a more sombre story. According to a 2024 release from Quinte Health, over 1,200 non-traumatic major lower-limb amputations occur every year in Ontario, and most of them are due to complications of vascular disease, such as peripheral artery disease and diabetes.
That said, Johnson says he’s optimistic that advances in vascular care not just at Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General but in vascular medicine more broadly are helping prevent amputations.
“This is beneficial for people in our community who might be facing serious problems, might be facing the loss of their limb and a life-altering event,” he says. “We’ve modernized and revolutionized vascular care for the community in the past, I’d say five to eight years in particular. I wouldn’t say that there’s anything new or novel about the concept but what has changed is the technology available.”
In 2018, Brampton Civic announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art endovascular therapeutics suite, a facility that serves as a space for interventional radiology and an operating room. The suite enables Osler’s vascular and endovascular surgeons and radiologists to perform life- and limb-saving procedures in one space giving patients more seamless access to care.
Scianitti is recovering-all in one piece-after receiving treatment at Brampton Civic for multiple blood clots in his leg.
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Scianitti, a 76-year-old retiree said he first got an inkling something was wrong in early 2026 when he flew from Arizona to Calgary and upon exiting a van at his hotel heard a ‘pop’ in his left leg.
“We checked in and at night the [discomfort] started getting worse and I thought I pulled a muscle or something,” he tells INsauga Canada.
The discomfort persisted so that spring Scianitti booked an appointment with his family doctor.
“He said ‘Frank this is probably a pulled muscle.’ He said to wait a month or two then check it out.”
But as weeks went on the pain persisted and his circulation began to decline. In May he went to a hospital in Orangeville for an ultrasound where he was told he was essentially having “a heart attack in his foot.”
The doctor referred Scianitti to the vascular team at Brampton Civic for more tests.
“I’d never been so scared in my life,” he says about his initial consultation with Osler vascular surgeon Dr. John Byrne. “He tells you the truth; he doesn’t hide anything. He said ‘Frank you have three blockages.’”
Scianitti said the doctor told him there were several treatment options with amputation as the last resort. The team decided to first try the minimally invasive endovascular revascularization technique that would spare his leg while avoiding higher risks associated with open surgery.
“Endo means that we do it from within the artery with minimally invasive techniques punctures needles and wires instead of large incisions; revascularization means taking an artery that’s not currently flowing leading to impairment of blood supply into someone’s leg trying to reopen it,” Johnson explains.
“It’s almost like trying to turn Niagara Falls back onto the leg so tissues can survive get their needed blood supply able heal ultimately salvage leg.”
Johnson who wasn’t involved directly with Scianitti’s care states that technology used for treating blood clots continues improving saying going forward less invasive procedures like Scianitti underwent are likely becoming standard practice now.
“As we continue on this path towards finding safer minimally invasive ways revascularize legs technology keeps getting better.” He adds “I suspect open surgery will no longer be mainstay sometime during my career.”
D uring his time at hospital Johnson mentions how quickly he’s seen their vascular health team adapt new techniques best practices. p >
“When we see patient problem we’re thinking ‘What can we do help them? What can we do help them minimally invasively? What can do minimize major morbidity mortality associated bypass surgery?’ So always looking through lens see how help patients least stressful least risky way possible.” p >
While initially terrified possible outcome Scianitti feels procedures undergone explained carefully executed effective currently. p >
Although experienced some pain discomfort after release hospital say comfortably walk follow-up appointments indicated blood clots returning procedure worked. p >
“The bad news I have stay blood thinners twice day rest my life,” adds keeping up exercise physiotherapy without pushing hard. p >
Scianitti also relieved pain discomfort plagued weeks gone. p >
“My left calf side couldn’t move felt pins needles knotted,” shares. p >
Although difficult pinpoint why one person develops arterial blood clots another doesn’t , Johnson notes peripheral artery disease primarily affects older population common among patients over sixty. p >
He emphasizes importance preventing these conditions adopting healthy habits. p >
“Certain risk factors known linked developing conditions diabetes high pressure cholesterol smoking history kidney disease failure family history less modifiable can’t change DNA but can alter lifestyle choices reduce risk.” p >
Johnson confirms procedure works newer clots may form part Osler’s plan includes educating patients steps they take home maintain health.
For Scianitti prevention involves movement.
“Didn’t exercise lot after retirement golfed cart Now live Apple Watch “adds feeling good road recovery.
“I feel great not yet hundred percent goal achieve currently seventy seventy five percent.” INsauga’s Editorial Standards Policies
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