Predictive Factors for Mortality Following Major Lower Extremity Amputation.

Background: Despite advances in techniques and care, major amputation bears a high risk for mortality. Previously identified factors associated with increased risk of mortality include amputation level, renal function, and pre-operative white cell count.

Methods: A single center retrospective chart review was conducted identifying patients who had undergone a major amputation. Chi-squared, t-testing, and Cox proportional hazard modeling were performed examining death at 6 months and 12 months.

Results: Factors associated with an increased risk of six-month mortality include age (OR 1.01-1.05, < .001), sex (OR 1.08-3.24, < .01), minority race (OR 1.18-18.19, < .01), chronic kidney disease (OR 1.40-6.06, < .001), and use of pressors at the induction of anesthesia for index amputation (OR 2.09-7.85, < .000). Factors associated with increased risk of 12 month mortality were similar.

Discussion: Patients undergoing major amputation continue to suffer high mortality. Those patients who received their amputation under physiologically stressful conditions were more likely to die within 6 months. Reliably predicting six-month mortality can assist surgeons and patients in making appropriate care decisions.