Revascularization surgery: impact on lower extremity amputations.

The effect of revascularization surgery on the amputee population of 2 hospitals (VA and private) was studied in 2 time periods a decade apart--1969-70 and 1979-80. In the VA hospital there was a trend toward below-knee surgery over time; however, for patients who had prior vascular reconstruction and who ultimately came to amputation there was no change in the proportion of below-knee to above-knee surgery at either hospital. At the private hospital the average age of patients who underwent amputation increased significantly and the proportion of patients requiring amputation to the total number of patients undergoing vascular reconstruction significantly decreased in the later time period.