A Prospective Randomised Controlled Study For Assessment Of Use Of Pneumatic Tourniquet In Above Knee Amputation Of Ischemic Limb In Peripheral Vascular Disease

ABSTRACT

This is a prospective randomised controlled study for assessment of use of pneumatic tourniquet in above knee amputation of ischemic limb in peripheral vascular disease. The use of tourniquet is said to be a contraindication during surgeries involving amputations in peripheral vascular disease as they might injure the already compromised arteries above the planned level of amputation. Taking into consideration the promising results from some previously done studies, we assumed that the use of a pneumatic tourniquet has potential to improve the outcome following trans–femoral amputation without jeopardizing the healing of surgical stump wound. We selected forty patients for our study. All of them with non salvageable limb due to peripheral vascular disease. They were further randomized to either tourniquet or no tourniquet (control) group. Various parameters noted were intra–operative loss of blood (P<0.0001), post–operative need of transfusions (P<0.037), post–operative fall in haemoglobin(P<0.0001), wound healing, wound dehiscence/ eakdown and revision of amputation. Results of the trial showed that the use of a tourniquet during above knee amputation in peripheral vascular disease significantly reduces intra operative blood loss consequently reducing fall in post operative Haemoglobin and need for blood transfusion