Association between Preoperative Indications and Outcomes after Major Lower Extremity Amputation

Despite aggressive limb salvage techniques, lower extremity amputation (LEA) is frequently performed. Major indications for LEA include ischemia and uncontrolled infection (UI). A review of the national Vascular Quality Initiative amputation registry was performed to analyze the influence of indication on outcomes after LEA. Retrospective review of the Vascular Quality Initiative LEA registry (2012–2017) identified all above- and below-knee amputations. Outcome measures included 30-day mortality, return to operating room (OR), postoperative myocardial infarctions, and postoperative SSI. Indications for surgery included ischemic rest pain, ischemic tissue loss (TL), acute limb ischemia (ALI), UI, and neuropathic TL. A total of 6701 patients met the inclusion criteria. The indications for surgery included TL (49.0%), UI (31.7%), ALI (8.0%), rest pain (6.6%), and neuropathic TL (2.3%). Patients with ALI had the highest 30-day mortality (12.0%) compared with TL (6.6%) and UI (6.4%) [ P < 0.001]. The highest rate of return to OR occurred in the UI group (12.6%) [ P < 0.001]. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with UI have significantly higher rates of return to OR, whereas those with ALI have a 30-day mortality twice as high as other indications (both P < 0.001). These data can inform expectations after LEA based on the indications for surgery.