E Eskelinen1, M Luther, A Eskelinen, M Lepäntalo. 1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland and Cardiovascular Unit, Surgical Department, Vaasa Central Hospital, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the incidences of infrapopliteal bypass for critical limb ischaemia (CLI) and major amputation in Finns aged >or=70 years. METHODS: Patients undergoing infrapopliteal bypass or major amputation for CLI during 1997 were retrospectively analysed. The incidence of major amputation in a group of hospitals performing infrapopliteal bypass "actively" was compared to that in a group performing such surgery "passively". RESULTS: The incidence of major amputations in the active (978 bypasses per million inhabitants) and passive (57 per million) groups was 1976 and 3177 per million, respectively (p = 0.016). There was a significant (p = 0.012) inverse relationship between the incidence of the two procedures in patients aged >or=80, but not <80 years. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that infrapopliteal bypass is effective in reducing the requirement for major amputation in patients aged >or=80 years.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the incidences of infrapopliteal bypass for critical limb ischaemia (CLI) and major amputation in Finns aged >or=70 years. METHODS:Patients undergoing infrapopliteal bypass or major amputation for CLI during 1997 were retrospectively analysed. The incidence of major amputation in a group of hospitals performing infrapopliteal bypass "actively" was compared to that in a group performing such surgery "passively". RESULTS: The incidence of major amputations in the active (978 bypasses per million inhabitants) and passive (57 per million) groups was 1976 and 3177 per million, respectively (p = 0.016). There was a significant (p = 0.012) inverse relationship between the incidence of the two procedures in patients aged >or=80, but not <80 years. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that infrapopliteal bypass is effective in reducing the requirement for major amputation in patients aged >or=80 years.