title: Quality of life following infragenicular bypass and lower limb amputation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To objectively assess the quality of life after femorodistal bypass and compare this to quality of life achieved following primary limb amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leicester Royal Infirmary, U.K., 1988-1993.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-assessment postal questionnaire containing scales measuring emotional disorder, social functioning and mobility was sent to 112 patients who had previously undergone femorodistal bypass (n = 86) or primary limb amputation (n = 26).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Further analysis demonstrated that a secondary procedure (PTA or graft revision) to maintain graft patency did not adversely affect quality of life. Additionally, patients undergoing secondary amputation after graft failure had an identical quality of life to those undergoing primary amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data illustrate that the quality of life after successful femorodistal bypass is higher than after primary or secondary amputation. To attain the maximum quality of life in patients with critical ischaemia, femorodistal bypass should be performed wherever feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Leicester, U.K.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sayers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires