Energy demands for walking in dysvascular amputees as related to the level of amputation.

Cardiac function and oxygen consumption were measured in 25 patients who underwent amputation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and in five similarly aged control patients with PVD. Five patients at each of the midfoot, Syme's, below-, through-, and above-knee amputation levels and the five controls were measured at rest, normal walking speed, and maximum walking speed on a treadmill. At normal walking speed, all of the patients functioned at approximately 80% of their cardiac capacity. Normal walking speed and cadence decreased and oxygen consumption per meter walked increased with more proximal amputation. The ratio of cardiac function and oxygen consumption at normal walking speed as compared with at rest increased with more proximal amputation, and the capacity to increase walking speed and oxygen consumption lessened. Our results suggest that peripheral vascular insufficiency amputees function at a level approaching their maximum functional capacity. At more proximal amputation levels, the capacity to walk short or long distances is greatly impaired.     

Avoidable 30-day mortality analysis and failure to rescue in dysvascular lower extremity amputees

Background and purpose — An enhanced treatment program may decrease 30-day mortality below 20% after lower extremity amputations (LEA). The potential and limitations for further reduction are unknown. We analyzed postoperative causes of 30-day mortality, and assessed failure to rescue (FTR) rate in LEA patients who followed an enhanced treatment program.

Patients and methods — Medical charts of 195 primary LEA procedures were reviewed independently by 3 of the authors, and deaths during hospitalization following amputation were classified according to consensus.

Results — 31 patients died within 30 days after surgery. 4 deaths were classified as “definitely unavoidable,” 4 as “probably unavoidable,” and 23 as “FTR.” Patients who died had a higher incidence of sepsis, pneumonia, and acute myocardial infarction compared with those alive. A log binominal regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, ASA score, diabetes, nursing home admission, transfemoral amputation (TFA), and BMI showed that the risk of 30-day mortality was increased for TFA (RR =2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.8) and for patients with diabetes (RR =2.7, 95% CI 1.3–5.6). The FTR rate (patients with 30-day mortality/all patients with a severe postoperative complication) was 30%. Of the FTR deaths, 20 at some point had active lifesaving care curtailed.

Interpretation — Future initiatives should be directed at enhanced sepsis and pneumonia prophylactic actions, in addition to close monitoring of hemodynamics in anemic patients, with the potential to further reduce morbidity and mortality rates.     

Success rates for rehabilitation of vascular amputees: implications for preoperative assessment and amputation level.

All lower limb amputations performed during 1986 and 1988 in eight hospitals in the south-east region were assessed. Of 440 amputations for vascular disease, 193 were above-knee, 193 below-knee, 15 Gritti-Stokes, 15 through-knee and 24 bilateral. Of the 440 patients, 75 died in hospital, 113 were considered unsuitable for a prosthesis and 252 (57 per cent) were referred for prostheses. Rehabilitation questionnaires were sent to 179 patients (41 per cent), as a further 54 had died and 19 had become known non-wearers before the study commenced. The response rate was 81 per cent; 102 patients completed the questionnaire, 21 were reported dead, and 22 were non-wearers. Of a maximum rehabilitation score of 12, 52 patients scored 6 or more (consistent with mobility on their artificial limb around the home), and 21 scored 9 or more (a standard accepted as successful rehabilitation). It is concluded that 10-15 per cent of amputees achieve mobility around the home on their prosthesis. Only 5 per cent, however, rehabilitate well and become independent of their wheelchair. When amputation is inevitable, more consideration should be given to surgery that optimizes wheelchair rehabilitation.     

Early post-surgical prosthetic limb fitting in dysvascular below-knee amputees with a pre-fabricated temporary limb

Two consecutive series of patients undergoing below-knee amputation for peripheral vascular insufficiency were compared relative to the length of acute-care hospitalization and rehabilitation. The residual limb control group was treated with soft-surgical dressings and non-weight bearing ambulation with referral to the amputee clinic when the residual limb wound was "ready." The residual limb experimental group was treated with rigid plaster (cast) dressings with early post-surgical prosthetic limb fitting and progressive weight bearing ambulation. Acute-care hospitalization following amputation surgery averaged 27.7 days in the control group, and 23.7 days in the treated group. Patients were either re-admitted or transferred to a rehabilitation unit where hospitalization averaged 42.9 days in the control group and 14.1 days in the treated group. This resulted in a cost savings of almost $15,000 per patient based on present hospital fees. The results of this study suggest that early post-surgical prosthetic limb fitting not only hastens recovery amputation, but can be safe and cost effective.     

Retrolisthesis and lumbar disc herniation: a preoperative assessment of patient function.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Retrolisthesis is relatively rare but when present has been associated with increased back pain and impaired back function. Neither the prevalence of this condition in individuals with lumbar disc herniations nor its possible relation to preoperative back pain and dysfunction has been well studied. PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were as follows: (1) to determine the prevalence of retrolisthesis (alone or in combination with other degenerative conditions) in individuals with confirmed L5-S1 disc herniation who later underwent lumbar discectomy; (2) to determine if there is any association between retrolisthesis and degenerative changes within the same vertebral motion segment; and (3) to determine the relation between retrolisthesis (alone or in combination with other degenerative conditions) and preoperative low back pain, physical function, and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Cross-sectional study. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 125 individuals were identified for incorporation into this study. All patients had confirmed L5-S1 disc herniation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and later underwent L5-S1 discectomy. All patients were enrolled in the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) study; data were obtained from the multi-institutional database comprised of SPORT patients from across the United States. OUTCOME MEASURES: Retrolisthesis, degenerative change on MRI, and Modic changes. METHODS: MRI scans of the lumbar spine were assessed at spinal level L5-S1 for all 125 patients. Retrolisthesis was defined as posterior subluxation of 8% or more. Disc degeneration was defined as any loss of disc signal on T2 imaging. Modic changes were graded 1 to 3 and collectively classified as vertebral endplate degenerative changes. The presence of facet arthropathy and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy was classified jointly as posterior degenerative changes. RESULTS: The overall incidence of retrolisthesis at L5-S1 in our study was 23.2%. Retrolisthesis combined with posterior degenerative changes, degenerative disc disease, or vertebral endplate changes had incidences of 4.8%, 16%, and 4.8% respectively. The prevalence of retrolisthesis did not vary by sex, age, race, smoking status, or education level when compared with individuals with normal sagittal alignment. However, individuals with retrolisthesis were more likely to be receiving workers' compensation than those without retrolisthesis. Increased age was found to be associated with individuals having vertebral endplate degenerative changes (both alone and in conjunction with retrolisthesis) and degenerative disc disease. Individuals who had retrolisthesis with concomitant vertebral endplate degenerative changes were more often smokers and had no insurance. The presence of retrolisthesis was not associated with an increased incidence of having degenerative disc disease, posterior degenerative changes, or vertebral endplate changes. No statistical significance was found between the presence of retrolisthesis on the degree of patient preoperative low back pain and physical function. Patients with degenerative disc disease were found to have increased leg pain compared with those patients without degenerative disc changes. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant relationship between retrolisthesis in patients with L5-S1 disc herniation and worse baseline pain or function. It is possible that the contribution of pain or dysfunction related to retrolisthesis was far overshadowed by the presence of symptoms caused by the concomitant disc herniation. It remains to be seen whether retrolisthesis will affect outcome after discectomy in these patients.     

Patient satisfaction with preoperative assessment in a preoperative assessment testing clinic

Preoperative Assessment Testing Clinics (PATCs) coordinate preoperative surgical, anesthesia, nursing, and laboratory care. Although such clinics have been noted to lead to efficiencies in perioperative care, patient experience and satisfaction with PATCs has not been evaluated. We distributed a one-page questionnaire consisting of satisfaction with clinical and nonclinical providers to patients presenting to our PATC over three different time periods. Eighteen different questions had five Likert scale options that ranged from excellent (5) to poor (1). We achieved a 71.4% collection rate. The average for the subscale that indicated overall satisfaction was 4.48 +/- 0.67 and the average for the total instrument was 4.46 +/- 0.55. Although the highest scores were given for subscales describing the anesthesia, nurse, and lab, only the anesthesia subscale improved with time (P = 0.007). The subscale that involved information and communication had the highest correlation with the overall satisfaction subscale (r = 0.76; P < 0.0001). The satisfaction with the total duration of the clinic visit (3.71 +/- 1.26) was significantly less (P < 0.0001) than the satisfaction to the other items. The authors conclude that the practitioner and functional aspects of the preoperative visit have a significant impact on patient satisfaction, with information and communication versus the total amount of time spent being the most positive and negative components, respectively. IMPLICATIONS: Patient satisfaction can serve as an important indicator of the quality of preoperative care delivered in Preoperative Assessment Testing Clinics (PATC). Information and communication, both from clinical and nonclinical service providers, remain the most important positive components, and the total duration of the clinic visit represents the most negative component, of patient satisfaction in a PATC.     

Review of function in bilateral lower limb amputees

A review of the results of bilateral lower limb amputation in 53 individuals indicates that the physician can now be more optimistic when considering the use of prostheses and the value of rehabilitation in patients with bilateral amputation. Many patients continue to use a prosthesis after the second amputation, irrespective of the site of the first. Associated disease and lack of motivation delay successful rehabilitation. About half of the amputees used a wheelchair as a principal aid to mobility. A number of patients found that amputation of the second limb necessitated a change of accommodation, reduced their degree of independence and decreased their social activities. Individuals with bilateral lower limb amputation prefer to retain the knee joint, even if they already have unilateral above-knee amputation.     

Effect of preoperative extradural bupivacaine and morphine on stump sensation in lower limb amputees

We have examined the effect of preoperative extradural bupivacaine and morphine on postoperative stump sensation in 31 patients undergoing amputation of the lower limb in a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups: group 1 received extradural 0.25% bupivacaine 4-7 ml h-1 and morphine 0.16-0.28 ml h-1 before and during operation; group 2 received extradural saline before and during amputation and conventional analgesics for pain treatment. All patients received general anaesthesia for the amputation and extradural bupivacaine and morphine after operation. Sensory examination of the limb/stump was carried out before amputation, and after 1 week and 6 months. The following were measured: pressure pain thresholds (pressure algometry), touch and pain detection thresholds (von Frey hairs), thermal sensibility (thermal rolls), and allodynia and wind-up-like pain. There were no differences between the two groups at any of the postoperative assessments for mechanical and thermal sensibility or rate of allodynia and wind-up-like pain. Our study suggests that preoperative and intraoperative extradural block had no long-term prophylactic effect on hyperalgesia, allodynia or wind-up- like pain.      

Antenatal and preoperative genetic and clinical assessment in myotonic dystrophy.

The antenatal investigation of an obstetric patient with a history of myotonia is described. The smooth and striated muscle dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy renders these patients, as a group, liable to surgical correction and exposure to anaesthesia. A caesarean section is reported to illustrate the preferred timing of diagnosis and peripartum management. While regional anaesthesia is preferred, myotonic dystrophy is not a contraindication to general anaesthesia, provided risks are anticipated and steps taken to minimize complications.     

肝癌术前肝脏储备功能评估方法的应用与研究进展

肝癌是全球第六高发的恶性肿瘤,也是全球癌症死亡的第三大原因。尽管目前肝切除术仍然是根治肝癌的首选治疗方法,具有较高的治疗效果,但仍有部分患者的预后并不理想。其中,肝切除术后肝功能衰竭（PHLF）是围手术期主要的死亡原因。PHLF的发生与肝切除术后残余肝脏的体积和功能不足密切相关,因此,术前肝脏储备功能的准确评估显得至关重要。然而,慢性肝病的进展会引起肝功能储备的变化,肝脏不同区域功能存在差异,给术前准确评估带来巨大挑战。目前,常见的肝脏储备功能评估方法主要包括综合评分系统、实验室血清学检查、吲哚菁绿（ICG）清除试验、影像学以及核医学肝胆闪烁显像（HBS）等。其中血清学检查和临床评分系统是常用的肝功能不全筛查工具,成本低、易获取,广泛应用于临床。目前,ICG清除试验已纳入国内各规范指南及专家共识,但评估的仍是整体肝功能。钆塞酸二钠（Gd-EOB-DTPA）是肝胆特异性MRI对比剂,其不仅能够提供肝脏解剖信息,还能够对局部肝功能进行定量评估。与ICG清除试验相比,Gd-EOB-DTPA增强MRI在预测PHLF方面具有更高的预测价值。然而,由于高昂的成本、长时间的检查过程以及复杂的扫描序列...     

Ray resection in the dysvascular foot. A retrospective review

Twenty-nine ray resection amputations of the lower extremity were performed in 25 dysvascular patients during a four-year period. The indications for amputation were localized gangrene, resistant localized osteomyelitis of a metatarsal, or both. Specific criteria included: (1) foot Doppler pressure of 70 mm Hg, (2) ankle-arm Doppler arterial pressure ratio of at least 0.5, (3) lateral ray resection only when healthy tissue margins could easily be produced, and (4) central ray resection only for persistent deep infection resistant to local treatment. Only 31% healed without further amputation or ulceration. Analyzed retrospectively, the results demonstrate that ray resection has a poor potential for success in the presence of "localized" gangrene and is only moderately successful in the treatment of chronic resistant localized infection.     

Lower-limb proprioception in above-knee amputees.

A proprioception measurement system was designed and constructed to evaluate lower-limb knee joint proprioception in ten above-knee amputees. The system permitted the testing of subjects in a position simulating late swing phase of gait. The threshold for detection of slow passive motion and the ability to reproduce specified lower-limb positions were recorded for the sound and the prosthetic limbs of the subjects. A significant difference was detected between prosthetic and sound limb passive motion detection threshold; however, no difference was found between prosthetic and sound limb passive motion reproduction. This finding suggests the importance of hip joint motion appreciation in the amputees' proprioception of the prosthetic knee joint when these motions are associated. Prosthetic limb passive motion reproduction error decreased with age, suggesting that the amputees may improve their ability to use remaining lower limb proprioceptive mechanisms to compensate for the loss of anatomic knee joint structures.     

Computed tomography in the preoperative assessment of Poland's syndrome.

Four cases of Poland's syndrome were investigated with thoracic computed tomography (CT) to determine the precise extent of the upper limb girdle abnormalities. CT confirmed in all cases the absence of the sternocostal head of pectoralis major and clearly showed associated abnormalities of pectoralis minor, serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi as well as bony structures. In view of the importance of latissimus dorsi in reconstructive surgery, we believe that a limited thoracic CT scan provides useful information in patients with Poland's syndrome requesting anterior axillary reconstruction and breast mound formation.     

Ventilation and perfusion scans in the preoperative assessment of bronchial carcinoma.

Ventilation (krypton -81m) and perfusion (technetium -99m) lung scans were obtained in a consecutive series of 21 patients shortly before thoracotomy for proven or suspected carcinoma of the bronchus. In most patients ventilation and perfusion were impaired equally and the scan abnormality corresponded to the bronchoscopic and radiological findings. Unexpectedly large defects in the perfusion scan were seen in three patients, all of whom had extensive neoplastic involvement of the mediastinum at thoracotomy, but 11 other patients had mediastinal involvement which was not suspected from the scan. Ventilation scanning was useful in the prediction of postoperative ventilatory capacity in two patients who underwent pneumonectomy. We conclude that ventilation and perfusion scans are not sensitive indicators of neoplastic involvement of the mediastinum but they are valuable for the prediction of postoperative lung function.