AIMTo assess whether the surgical apgar score (SAS) is a prognostic tool capable of identifying patients at risk of major complications following lower extremity amputations surgery.METHODSThis was a single-center, retrospective observational cohort study conducted between January 2013 and April 2015. All patients who had either a primary transtibial amputation (TTA) or transfemoral amputation (TFA) conducted at our institution during the study period were assessed for inclusion. All TTA patients underwent a standardized one-stage operative procedure (ad modum Persson amputation) performed approximately 10 cm below the knee joint. All TTA procedures were performed with sagittal flaps. TFA procedures were performed in one stage with amputation approximately 10 cm above the knee joint, performed with anterior/posterior flaps. Trained residents or senior consultants performed the surgical procedures. The SAS is based on intraoperative heart rate, blood pressure and blood loss. Intraoperative parameters of interest were collected by revising electronic health records. The first author of this study calculated the SAS. Data regarding major complications were not revealed to the author until after the calculation of SAS. The SAS results were arranged into four groups (SAS 0-4, SAS 5-6, SAS 7-8 and SAS 9-10). The cohort was then divided into two groups representing low-risk (SAS ≥ 7) and high-risk patients (SAS < 7) using a previously established threshold. The outcome of interest was the occurrence of major complications and death within 30-d of surgery.RESULTSA logistic regression model with SAS 9-10 as a reference showed a significant linear association between lower SAS and more postoperative complications [all patients: OR = 2.00 (1.33-3.03), P = 0.001]. This effect was pronounced for TFA [OR = 2.61 (1.52-4.47), P < 0.001]. A significant increase was observed for the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group for all patients [OR = 2.80 (1.40-5.61), P = 0.004] and for the TFA sub-group [OR = 3.82 (1.5-9.42), P = 0.004]. The AUC from the models were estimated as follows: All patients = [0.648 (0.562-0.733), P = 0.001], for TFA patients = [0.710 (0.606-0.813), P < 0.001] and for TTA patients = [0.472 (0.383-0.672), P = 0.528]. This indicates moderate discriminatory power of the SAS in predicting postoperative complications among TFA patients.CONCLUSIONSAS provides information regarding the potential development of complications following TFA. The SAS is especially useful when patients are divided into high- and low-risk groups.

AIMTo investigate the total blood loss (TBL) and the safety with respect to the re-amputation rate after transtibial amputation (TTA) conducted with and without a tourniquet.METHODSThe study was a single-centre retrospective cohort study of patients with a primary TTA admitted between January 2013 and April 2015. All patients with a primary TTA were assessed for inclusion if the amputation was performed because of arteriosclerosis or diabetic complications. All patients underwent a standardized TTA procedure that was performed approximately 10 cm below the knee joint and performed with sagittal flaps. The pneumatic tourniquet, when used, was inflated around the femur to a pressure of 100 mmHg above the systolic blood pressure. The number of blood transfusions within the first four postoperative days was recorded. The intraoperative blood loss (OBL), which is defined as the volume of blood lost during surgery, was determined from the suction volume and by the weight difference of the surgical dressings. The trigger for a blood transfusion was set at a decrease in the Hgb level < 9.67 g/dL (6 mmol/L). Transfusions were performed with pooled red blood cells containing 245 mL per portion, which equals 55 g/L of haemoglobin. The TBL during the first four postoperative days was calculated based on the haemoglobin level and the estimated blood volume. The re-amputation rate was evaluated within 30 d.RESULTSSeventy-four out of 86 consecutive patients who underwent TTA within the two-year study period were included in the analysis. Of these, 38 were operated on using a tourniquet and 36 were operated on without using a tourniquet. There were no significant preoperative differences between the groups. The patients in both groups had a postoperative decrease in their Hgb level compared with preoperative baseline values. The patients operated on using a tourniquet received approximately three millilitres less blood transfusion per kilogram body weight compared with patients operated on without a tourniquet. The duration of surgery was shorter and the OBL was less for the tourniquet group than the non-tourniquet group, whereas no significant difference was observed for the TBL. The TBL median was 859 mL (IQR: 383-1315) in the non-tourniquet group vs 737 mL (IQR: 331-1218) in the tourniquet group (P = 0.754). Within the 30-d follow-up period, 9 patients in the tourniquet group and 11 in the non-tourniquet group underwent a re-amputation at the trans-femoral level. The use of a tourniquet showed no statistically significant association with the 30-d re-amputation at the femur level in the multiple logistic regression model (P = 0.78). The only variable with a significant association with re-amputation was age (OR = 1.07; P = 0.02).CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that tourniquets do not cause severe vascular damage with an increased postoperative bleeding or failure rate as the result.

Introduction:Underestimation of the actual blood loss in patients undergoing nontraumatic transfemoral amputation (TFA) can impact negatively on outcome in these often frail patients, with very limited physiological reserves. The primary aim of this study is to estimate the total blood loss (TBL) after TFA, and second, to evaluate the impact of blood loss on 30-day mortality and medical complications.Methods:A single-center retrospective cohort study conducted from 2013 to 2015. The TBL was calculated on the fourth postoperative day. It was based on the hemoglobin levels, transfusions, and the estimated blood volume.Results:Eighty-one patients undergoing TFA were included for final analysis. The median TBL was 964 mL (interquartile range [IQR]: 443-1558). The intraoperative blood loss (OBL) was 400 mL (IQR: 200-500). The median difference between TBL and OBL was 688 mL (IQR: 124-1075). The patient received red blood cell (RBC) transfusion of a median amount of 2 units. Higher number of transfusions (>2) did not impact the outcome. From multivariable analysis, it was evident that the TBL increased significantly in patients with renal disease prior to surgery, (P = .034). The TBL itself was not independently associated with increased 30-day mortality or medical complications.Conclusion:The TBL after TFAs is significantly greater than the volume estimated intraoperatively and increases significantly in the presence of renal disease prior to surgery. An increased TBL and requirement for RBC transfusion is not directly associated with 30-day mortality or medical complications. A high vigilance for anemia seems advisable when planning for TFA surgery. Research on optimum blood conservation and transfusion strategies during TFA is warranted.