[Homecare Support for Patients with Foot Ulcers Rejecting Lower Limb Amputations: Effects of Visiting Nursing]

The patient, a 60-year-old male with a combination of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, was hospitalized for peripheral arterial disease and recommended as a candidate for lower limb amputation after vascular IVR. The patient rejected this recommendation and left the hospital. The toes of both feet turned black and became mummified, which resulted in the patient being unable to walk at home and being prescribed narcotics for the pain. The patient requested home nursing where he was provided with lower limb wound care and rehabilitation to improve lower limb muscle strength together by visiting nurses and his wife. A daily regime was devised to prevent accompanying pain in the wounds, which improved gradually. The time spent together through repeated daily care helped build a relationship in which everyone involved was pleased with the improvements to the wounds. The necrotic site was auto-amputated and healed after 15 months. During this time, the feelings of the patient who did not want to amputate were considered and he was able to be cured without additional complications.