Death and venous thromboembolism after lower extremity amputation

Abstract

Background: Lower extremity amputation is often performed in patients with end-stage vascular disease and is considered a high-risk procedure. Uncertainty exists about the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in these patients.

Objectives: To establish the incidence of death and venous thromboembolism after lower extremity amputation.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed to establish the incidences of death and VTE after lower extremity amputation, as detected by bilateral complete compression ultrasonography and ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy performed preoperatively and around day 14 postoperatively. Standard low-molecular-weight heparin thromboprophylaxis was given during the study period. A secondary outcome was the incidences of mortality and symptomatic venous thromboembolic complications during 8 weeks of postoperative follow-up.

Results: Forty-nine patients (53 amputations) were ultimately included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Five patients died within the 2-week period and an additional seven patients died during the 8 weeks clinical follow-up period. The total mortality rate therefore was 12 of 53 amputations [22.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 12.3-36.2%]. Six patients developed pulmonary embolisms (of which two were fatal) and one patient developed an asymptomatic contralateral distal deep venous thrombosis, resulting in a total VTE rate of 7 out of 53 amputations (13.2%; 95% CI, 5.47-25.3%).

Conclusion: Lower extremity amputation is accompanied by a high mortality rate from sepsis, and respiratory and vascular causes. This study shows that VTE substantially contributes to the morbidity and mortality after lower extremity amputation despite adequate pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in this vulnerable population of patients.