By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
A 74 year old diabetic patient has avoided a double leg amputation thanks to innovative microwave technology. Barry Mayled, who suffers from type two diabetes, had been dealing with worsening foot ulcers during the Covid 19 pandemic. Surgeons had advised amputation, but a medical student observing his treatment suggested microwave therapy. After nine months of this treatment, Mr. Mayled is now completely healed.
His severely ulcerated feet were treated using Swift, a microwave technology developed by Stirling based company Emblation. Swift uses low energy microwaves to stimulate the immune system. Mr. Mayled, an architect and gardener from Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, expressed his gratitude for the treatment, emphasizing how it has enabled him to continue working and maintain his quality of life during retirement. He described the prospect of losing his legs as unbearable.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Mayled said, "It saved my life. I'm still working and on building sites. Without my legs, it would have been the end of my career as a sole practitioner." He recalled a particularly dire moment in the hospital when the main surgeon had little hope left, saying that it was a matter of "when" not "if" his legs would be amputated below the knees.
Mr. Mayled credited Tracey Davies of Toetal Footcare for recognizing the underlying issue. Initially believing he had a bruise that developed into an ulcer, Mr. Mayled saw the condition worsen over time, eventually spreading to both feet. Diabetic complications, such as reduced blood flow and nerve damage in the lower limbs, can lead to severe ulcers and gangrene.
The situation worsened during the pandemic, leaving Mr. Mayled in a dire state. However, the suggestion of microwave treatment by a student observer offered a glimmer of hope. Despite initial skepticism from the medical team, Mr. Mayled underwent seven applications of Swift technology on his right foot and three on his left, under the care of Ms. Davies at Toetal Footcare in Cardiff.
Ms. Davies acknowledged the excellent wound care Mr. Mayled received from the NHS but highlighted Swift as a valuable alternative treatment. "We had nothing to lose," she said, noting that Mr. Mayled's case revealed verrucae infection as a possible cause of non healing foot ulcers. This discovery opens up new possibilities for using Swift to treat similar conditions, potentially preventing unnecessary amputations.
Ms. Davies, who has over 40 years of experience as an HCPC registered podiatrist, was amazed by the remarkable results. Swift, developed in 2016 by scientists Gary Beale and Eamon McErlean from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, has been used worldwide to treat verrucae and plantar warts. Medical testing is ongoing to explore its efficacy in treating other conditions, such as basal cell carcinoma.
Gary Beale, the CEO of Emblation, described Barry's recovery as "truly inspiring" and hailed Swift as a "game changing" technology.
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