Morbidity and mortality in acute lower limb ischaemia: a 5-year review.
A series of 204 consecutive patients with acute lower limb ischaemia was treated over a 5-year period in a Regional Vascular Unit. The mean age was 70 years, with a range of 41-98 and a female to male ratio of 1:0.94. Eighty-eight percent were treated by operation. Twenty-one had simultaneous vascular reconstructive procedures. Fifty-three patients died within 30 days (mortality rate 26%), and 12 required major amputation. Of these, four died resulting in a limb salvage rate of 95% in the survivors. An analysis of factors affecting outcome has shown increasing age, level of occlusion, recent myocardial infarction, pre-existing peripheral arterial disease and cardiopulmonary functional class to be major determinants of morbidity and mortality.
Vascular Surgery Unit, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, U.K.
A E
AE
Clason
P A
PA
Stonebridge
A J
AJ
Duncan
B
B
Nolan
A M
AM
Jenkins
C V
CV
Ruckley
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002423:Cause of Death; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors