Effects of the development of modern vascular services on amputation rates in Leicester, U.K.: a preliminary report.

We have reviewed 3036 consecutive patients who underwent arterial reconstruction, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or a major amputation for lower limb peripheral vascular disease in Leicester between 1974 and 1990. Patient data were obtained from the Hospitals Activity Analysis database, which codes all patient discharges according to diagnosis and treatment. During this 17-year study period, 1132 patients have undergone arterial reconstruction, 706 patients have undergone percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and 1198 patients have undergone major amputation. The results show that the number of arterial reconstructions and angioplasties for lower limb arterial occlusive disease has increased over the last 17 years. The total amputation rate has decreased slightly during the period studied, but overall the decrease has not been significant.