LIMITED SUCCESS OF LUMBAR SYMPATHECTOMY IN THE PREVENTION OF ISCHEMIC LIMB LOSS IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 152  (6) , 784-788
Abstract
The results of 93 consecutive lumbar sympathectomies, performed over a 5 yr period upon 54 patients with diabetes, and 39 without diabetes were compared in terms of subsequent amputation using life table analysis methods. Cumulative success rates for avoiding amputation were significantly lower in those with diabetes as compared with rates for those without diabetes at 5 yr, and at most shorter 6 mo. intervals. Although there are a number of possible explanations for this difference, an important contributing factor may be the prior spontaneous denervation of diabetic blood vessels. Better predictive indexes for lumbar sympathectomy are needed.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: