Mortality after major amputation following gangrene of the lower limb.

Major amputations were performed on 310 patients because of gangrene of the lower limb. The mean age was 70 years and 58 per cent of the patients were males. Females were on average 5 years older. The primary levels of amputation were above-knee (AK) in 33 per cent (103/310), through-knee (TK) in 21 per cent (66/310) and below-knee (BK) in 46 per cent (141/310). Mortality during hospitalization was 18 per cent and the average hospitalization time 68 days. Mortality during hospital stay was primarily dependent on the occurrence of somatic complications, secondarily on the level of the amputation (as an expression of the extent of the gangrene) and finally on the age of the patient. The long-term survival rate was correlated primarily to the level of the amputation and secondarily to age. A high excess mortality was noted during the first few postoperative years, especially among AK amputees, but after this period the survival curve ran parallel to the expected survival rate. Mortality after 1 year was 34 per cent, comprising 17 per cent after BK amputation, 39 per cent after TK and 54 per cent after AK amputation.