VARIATIONS OF RATES OF VASCULAR SURGICAL-PROCEDURES FOR CHRONIC CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA AND LOWER-LIMB AMPUTATION RATES IN WESTERN SWEDISH COUNTIES

Objective: To assess a possible covariation between vascular surgery a nd amputation rates for critical limb ischaemia in defined western Swe dish populations. Design and Setting: A retrospective study during 1 y ear of the total number of vascular reconstructions for chronic critic al leg ischaemia and amputations in the western Sweden area of health care. Main Outcome Measures: Correlation between vascular reconstructi on and amputation rates in subpopulations. Results: Patients undergoin g amputation were 6 years older and had a significantly higher degree of dependent living compared with those subjected to revascularisation . The annual vascular reconstruction rate in critical limb ischaemia v aried between 2 and 45, and the amputation rate between 12 and 71 per 100000 population in the different catchment areas. There was, however , no negative correlation between amputation and revascularisation rat es. Conclusion: We Jailed to demonstrate a negative correlation betwee n amputation and revascularisation rates. Patients undergoing vascular reconstruction and amputation may represent different populations. Ca tchment areas with hi,oil vascular surgical activity did not have corr espondingly lower amputation rates.