Perioperative management of pedal amputations.

When performing a pedal amputation, proper preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care is essential for a successful outcome. This article outlines proper perioperative management for the amputation patient. All patients require appropriate medical management and testing before any surgical procedure; however, preoperative planning specific for the amputation patient also is required to determine the appropriate level of amputation and to provide an optimal result. The surgeon always must remember that patients with more distal amputations have a decreased energy expenditure and better functional outcome compared with their more proximal counterparts. Appropriate psychological counseling and physical rehabilitation also should be initiated as early as possible for the patient to recover fully in a timely fashion.