title: Lower extremity amputation for peripheral vascular disease. A low-risk operation.
abstract: Two hundred fifty-three consecutive major amputations of the lower extremity for peripheral vascular insufficiency were performed over a 3-year period. Operative mortality was 0.9 per cent for 113 below-knee and 2.8 per cent for 140 above-knee amputations. Although lower extremity amputation has a reputation for high mortality and morbidity, this is unwarranted; adherence to a protocol of aggressive medical management with timely surgical intervention allows a mortality that is appropriate to the age and general debility of this patient population.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*