Lower extremity amputation for peripheral vascular disease. A low-risk operation.

Two hundred fifty-three consecutive major amputations of the lower extremity for peripheral vascular insufficiency were performed over a 3-year period. Operative mortality was 0.9 per cent for 113 below-knee and 2.8 per cent for 140 above-knee amputations. Although lower extremity amputation has a reputation for high mortality and morbidity, this is unwarranted; adherence to a protocol of aggressive medical management with timely surgical intervention allows a mortality that is appropriate to the age and general debility of this patient population.