[Plausible solution to prevent major amputation in diabetic foot patients]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading public health problems in the world. Complications of diabetes mellitus include cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, neuropathy and diabetic foot, which can in turn lead to lower extremity amputations. This is the main cause of mortality and the biggest expenditure for health system. Treatment is long and frustrating for the patient and also for medical staff. Amputations are becoming more frequent, while the quality of life after amputation is greatly reduced. Healing of postoperative infection is long lasting and demands a lot of hard work from the surgeon and the rest of medical staff, while causing severe suffering for the patient. Progression of infection increases mortality. Negative pressure therapy after minor foot amputations greatly reduces healing time. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) was applied after surgical treatment. All necrotic tissue and fibrin deposits were removed. Initial therapy was administered continuously with 125 mm Hg of vacuum. The NPWT was continued intermittently. Additionally, all patients underwent additional hyperbaric treatment and local hemoglobin administration. In conclusion, in all cases presented, combined NPWT, hyperbaric and topical hemoglobin therapy proved to be a highly effective therapeutic option in preventing pending major amputation following minor diabetic foot amputation.