Relative mortality and long term survival for the non-diabetic lower limb amputee with vascular insufficiency.

On a well defined non-diabetic amputation group with vascular insufficiency consisting of 10,191 amputations during the period 1982 to 1992 the Standard Mortality Rate (SMR) and the long term survival (Kaplan-Meyer) were analysed. The SMR for the total group was 8.6 (8.4-8.9) times the expected mortality the first year after amputation, decreasing to 3.2 (3.3-3.4) the second year. SMR in relation to age, gender and level of amputation was analysed. In the long term survival studies the median survival time (50% survival) for the total group was 1.8 years. Significant relation was found between the long term survival and gender, age and level of amputation.