CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetic patients present high risk of having to undergo minor or major amputation during their lifetimes, because of ischemia or infection. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify risk factors for major amputation in diabetic patients with foot infections. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective clinical-surgical trial at the Vascular Surgery Service of Santa Casa de São Paulo. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with diabetic foot infections who underwent 129 hospitalizations in the Vascular Surgery Unit were analyzed in accordance with a pre-established protocol to compare two groups of diabetic patients: one that underwent major amputations and the other that underwent minor amputations or debridements. The patients were predominantly male, in their sixth decade of life, and had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chronic arterial insufficiency, age, diabetes mellitus duration, ascending lymphangitis, calcaneal lesions, Wagner's classification, laboratory tests and different microorganisms in deep tissue cultures were the risk factors evaluated in all patients. RESULTS: The statistically significant risk factors for major amputation included age, ascending lymphangitis (odds ratio, OR: 2.5), calcaneal lesions (OR: 10.5), Wagner grade 5 lesions (OR: 3.4), chronic arterial insufficiency without possibility of revascularization (OR: 5.4) and diabetes duration. Presence of Gram-positive microorganisms was associated with the need of major amputation. The serum urea, creatinine, glucose and white blood cell levels were not significant risk factors for major amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for major amputation were: age, ascending lymphangitis, calcaneal lesions, Wagner grade 5 lesions, arterial insufficiency, diabetes duration and Gram-positive microorganisms in cultures.

This practical guidance, endorsed by the Brazilian Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and The Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, the International Union of Angiology and the European Venous Forum, aims to provide physicians with clear guidance, based on current best evidence-based data, on clinical strategies to manage antithrombotic strategies in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Background There is good evidence for the use of compression for some clinical indications but little is known about dosimetry in compression. Objective The aim of this work was to evaluate whether or not the use of compression stockings during part of the day would help in the reduction of evening oedema in patients with clinical, epidemiological, anatomical and physiopathological (CEAP) classifications C0 and C1. Methods The effects of elastic compression stockings on volumetric variations during the working day were evaluated for the legs of two men and 18 women (40 legs). The inclusion criterion was classification as C0 (10 legs) or C1 (30 legs) according to the CEAP criteria. Participants used three-quarter-length elastic compression stockings (20-30 mmHg) on three consecutive days for the entire day or only for the morning or they did not use the stockings at all. Volumetry using the water displacement technique was performed in the morning and in the evening. When the patients wore the stockings only during the morning, volumetry was also performed at 13:00 h. Results Significant increases in volume were observed for both legs when stockings were not used compared with the use of stockings in the morning only. After removing the stockings, both legs had significant increases in volume in the afternoon. However, use for half the day was better than not using the stockings at all. Conclusions The use of elastic compression stockings can reduce volumetric variations during working hours, with the use of stockings for the entire day being better than for just half the day.

Objetive: to perform a comparative analysis of atherosclerotic lesions and capillaries changes in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Methods: leg arteries and skin of 57 amputated lower limbs of diabetic (47.3%) and nondiabetic patients were histologically examined. the percentage of arterial stenosis of infrapopliteal arteries and the histological classification of atherosclerotic lesions were determined. capillary thickening was classified into four categories. Results: diabetic group showed more than 75% stenosis in 57% (vs. 56% in nondiabetic) of the anterior tibial; 78% (vs. 68%) of the posterior tibial; 58% (vs. 50%) of the peroneal leg arteries. diabetic and nondiabetic patients have predominance of type vi atherosclerotic lesions. the comparison of both groups showed no significant differences in atherosclerotic lesions. diabetic patients had significantly more PAs positive capillary thickening (63% vs. 23%). Conclusions: there were no differences in histological characteristics of atherosclerosis between the two groups. capillary thickening has been more observed in diabetics. RESUMO Estudo Histológico Comparativo das Lesões Ateroscleróticas e Alterações Microvasculares em Membros Inferiores Amputados de Pacientes Diabéticos e Não-diabéticos.Objetivo: comparar as lesões ateroscleróticas das extremidades de diabé-ticos e não-diabéticos, estudando a ocorrência de espessamento capilar. Métodos: examinou-se segmentos arteriais e da derme de 57 membros inferiores amputados de diabéticos (47,3%) e não-diabéticos. Analisou-se a porcentagem de estenose das artérias infra-poplíteas e a classificação histológica da placa. A presença de espessamento capilar foi classificada em quatro categorias. Resultados: entre os diabéticos 57% (versus 56% dos não-diabéticos) apresentavam estenose maior que 75% da artéria tibial anterior; 78% (versus 68%) da tibial posterior; 58% (versus 50%) da fibular. Houve predominância em ambos de lesões ateroscleróticas do tipo vi. comparando os grupos, não houve diferença significante na porcentagem de obstrução arterial ou na classificação da placa aterosclerótica. os diabéticos apresentaram significativamente mais espessamento capilar (63% versus 23%). Conclusões: não houve diferença nas características das lesões ateros cle róticas em diabéticos e não-diabéticos. o espessamento capilar foi mais prevalente entre os diabéticos.

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