Diabetes and Co Adequate therapy can prevent amputation

Diabetes, smoker's leg and co: Many amputations could be prevented
In Germany, around 50,000 leg amputations are performed each year. According to health experts, many of these could be prevented by adequate treatment of certain patients.

Many amputations could be prevented
According to a report of the German Society for Angiology - Society for Vascular Medicine e.V. (DGA), in Germany just over 50,000 amputations of the lower extremities are made every year due to circulatory tissue damage and diabetes mellitus. According to the experts, this figure could be reduced by adequate treatment of PAOD patients. Even with diabetes, many amputations can be avoided.

In Germany, about 50,000 lower limb amputations are performed each year. Many of these could be avoided by adequate treatment of certain patients. (Image: s_l / fotolia.com)

Care of PAOD patients is inadequate
As the communication states, current data from health services research show that the care of PAOD patients (PAD) is inadequate with guideline-based treatment recommendations.

Thus, nationwide, 40% of amputations are performed in patients with critical limb ischemia, although no adequate imaging (CT / magnetic resonance angiography) has previously been performed.

The proportion of amputations without measures to restore tissue perfusion, for example, through minimally invasive catheter intervention or bypass surgery, is even higher.

High-risk patients for amputations of every kind
"PAD patients are high-risk patients for any type of amputation, so rapid and accurate vascular medical expertise in diagnosis and therapy is absolutely essential, and getting a second opinion to avoid amputations is of paramount importance," Dr. Michael Lichtenberg, Managing Director of the DGA.

In PAOD, which is also commonly referred to as a smoker's leg, the leg muscles are not sufficiently supplied with oxygen and pain even under moderate load so strong that the sufferers have to stop again and again, reports the Federal Association for Health Information and Consumer Protection (BGV). Therefore, another name of the disease: intermittent claudication.

Change of consciousness within the medical profession
"In recent years, the major amputation rate (eg, lower leg amputation) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has decreased slightly, with parallel increases in minor amputation such as toes or forefoot in this group of patients record, "writes the DGA.

According to the medical profession, a change in attitudes within the medical profession, increased interdisciplinary cooperation, and better and earlier revascularization are reasons for reducing the number of major amputations.

But since every form of amputation entails an increase in mortality, it is also necessary to reduce the number of minor amputations.

Lowering the mortality rate
The DGA is therefore committed to a timely and evidence-based care of PAOD patients.

"Advances in research and development in the field of minimally invasive procedures offer these patients new perspectives and can greatly improve their quality of life," the experts write.

Last but not least, a reduction in amputations leads to a reduction in the mortality rate. (Ad)