ABSTRACT
Before undergoing amputation of a lower limb, one hundred and forty-six patients suffering from arteriosclerosis were studied with the purpose of finding prognostic indicators of success at the most distal level. The best results were obtained when skin perfusion pressure was above 60 mmHg in diabetics and above 40 mmHg in non-diabetics. Lower limb systolic blood pressure and skin thermometry also proved to be useful. The method proposed might be helpful to the surgeon in choosing the best treatment for the patient. It is a nonivasive procedure which can be easily performed and does not require sophisticated or expensive equipment.
Subject(s)
Amputation, Surgical/methods , Hemodynamics/physiology , Arteriosclerosis/complications , Arteriosclerosis/physiopathology , Arteriosclerosis/surgery , Diabetes Complications , Diabetes Mellitus/physiopathology , Humans , Prognosis , Wound Healing/physiologyABSTRACT
Early detection of stenosis is an important task in noninvasive examinations. The authors analyzed 50 patients with diabetic macroangiopathy in lower limbs, but without signs, or symptoms of brain ischemia, and 50 supposedly healthy subjects of similar sex and age composition as control. Eight hemodynamic parameters were measured in the common carotid artery using Doppler ultrasound with spectral analysis. Only 6% of the control group, but 64% of the diabetic patients had two or more altered parameters. The authors conclude that persons with high risk of cerebrovascular disease could be identified by Doppler ultrasound examination of common carotid artery.
