Lower extremity amputation: review of 110 cases.

Very significant morbidity and mortality continue to accompany lower extremity amputations. In this study 90 patients underwent 110 amputations over a 4 year period. The overall complication rate was 40 per cent and the overall mortality rate 12.2 per cent. The patients at greatest risk were the above knee amputees greater than 60 years of age with peripheral vascular disease. Amputation of the lower extremity must be recognized as a major, life-threatening procedure. Careful preoperative evaluation of cardiac, pulmonary, and nutritional status along with efforts to prevent sepsis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, gastrointestinal ulceration, and renal failure are necessary if the mortality accompanying these procedures is to be reduced.