Doppler-determined segmental pressures and wound-healing in amputations for vascular disease

One hundred and two diabetic and non-diabetic patients with severe vascular disease of the lower extremities were studied in the vascular laboratory at the Mayo Clinic prior to amputation. The level of amputation was chosen on the basis of clinical findings alone. Sixty-seven of the amputations were the classic below-the-knee type. The tests performed included determinations of segmental systolic pressures of the arm, thigh, calf, and ankle determined with the Doppler ultrasonic velocity detector. Contrary to other reports, we found no demonstrable relationship between calf pressure or calf-arm pressure index and the degree of healing of below-the-knee amputations in diabetic or non-diabetic patients.