Hospital Mortality After Major Amputation of the Lower Limbs for Critical Ischemia

Abstract

The prevalence of major amputations of lower limbs increases as the population ages. The aim of the current study was to evaluate hospital death in cases of major amputations for critical limb ischemia in a teaching hospital. Hospital mortality during the peri-operative period was evaluated in 231 major amputations of legs due to critical limb ischemia between January 2005 and 2007. Thirty-six (15.6%) deaths occurred in this period, 14 women and 22 men (ages between 47 and 86). Of these patients, 13 (5.6%) died during the first hospitalization and 23 (9.9%) during re-hospitalizations within the first month. High death rates were observed in the peri-operative period of major amputations of the lower limbs due to critical limb ischemia.