title: Walking ability and quality of life as outcome measures in a comparison of arterial reconstruction and leg amputation for the treatment of vascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the walking ability and the quality of life of patients with severe limb ischaemia treated with an arterial reconstruction (AR) or a primary below-knee amputation (BKA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study of patients with the first episode of ischaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  University tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight (AR 22, BKA 16) patients were studied over a 12-month period with a complete follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Walking ability was assessed with a subjective scale and quality of life was measured with the Spitzer QL-INDEX. The results were assessed for patients still alive (Step 1) as well as for all patients (Step 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking ability was better in the AR group at 3 (OR = 10.37; CI 2.12; 50.74; p = 0.004), 6 (OR = 6.47; CI 1.83, 22.79; p = 0.004), and 12 (OR = 3.82; CI 1.20, 12.15; p = (0.03) months. Quality of life was significantly better for AR patients at 3 (OR = 4.32; CI 1.55, 12.02; p = 0.005) and 6 (OR = 4.40; CI 1.68, 11.53; p = (0.003) months, but not at 12 months (OR = 2.44; CI 0.95, 6.26; p = 0.06). the 12 month foot salvage rate was 68%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walking ability and quality of life are better for AR patients than for BKA patients, even with a moderate food salvage rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fratezi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Luccia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking