Quality of life following infragenicular bypass and lower limb amputation.

Abstract

To objectively assess the quality of life after femorodistal bypass and compare this to quality of life achieved following primary limb amputation. Retrospective review. Leicester Royal Infirmary, U.K., 1988-1993. A self-assessment postal questionnaire containing scales measuring emotional disorder, social functioning and mobility was sent to 112 patients who had previously undergone femorodistal bypass (n = 86) or primary limb amputation (n = 26). Further analysis demonstrated that a secondary procedure (PTA or graft revision) to maintain graft patency did not adversely affect quality of life. Additionally, patients undergoing secondary amputation after graft failure had an identical quality of life to those undergoing primary amputation. These data illustrate that the quality of life after successful femorodistal bypass is higher than after primary or secondary amputation. To attain the maximum quality of life in patients with critical ischaemia, femorodistal bypass should be performed wherever feasible.