title: Preoperative factors predict mortality after major lower-extremity amputation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective was to develop a preoperative mortality risk stratification tool for patients facing major amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent above-knee (AKA) or below-knee amputation (BKA) from 2005 to 2010 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association of preoperative factors with 30-day mortality. Multivariable models were used to create a computerized prediction tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 9,368 patients, 4,032 underwent AKA and 5,336 BKA. The 30-day mortality rate after AKA was 12.8%, almost double that of BKA (6.5%, P < .001). The complication rate was statistically greater after AKA although numerically similar (28.5% vs 26.6%, P = .020), whereas the rate of reoperation was substantially greater after BKA (22.7% vs 11.7%, P < .001). Preoperative factors that predicted mortality after both procedures included older age, dependent functional status, dialysis, steroid use, preoperative sepsis, delirium, thrombocytopenia, increased international normalized ratio, and azotemia. Prediction tools were developed and validated, and their concordance indices were 0.75 for AKA and 0.81 for BKA, indicating good predictive accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative factors predict mortality after major amputation, and the risk calculator that we have developed may facilitate informed decision-making and provide realistic expectations for surgeons and patients faced with limb-threatening disease.
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research (WiSOR) Program, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: David Yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.forename: Gauthami
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajimanickam
authors.forename: Caprice C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: K Craig
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kent
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003376:Counseling; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology