Contralateral limb and patient survival after leg amputation

Fifty-three patients who required amputation for ischemic disease of the legs were evaluated actuarially. The incidence of subsequent contralateral amputation and the length of patient survival were found to be nearly identical to incidence rates reported during the 1960s. The diffuse end-stage nature of the atherosclerotic process which led to the initial amputation in both time periods accounted for the similarity. Operative mortality decreased from more than 10 percent to 1.5 percent, presumably because of improved cardiovascular support and early rehabilitation.