Use of air-plasma flow during high amputations in patients with obliterating diseases of lower limb arteries

The authors analyze the results of treatment in 249 patients with obliterating diseases of lower limb arteries, who underwent hip or upper-third leg amputation due to progressive humid gangrene in 2006 to 2009. In the study group (n = 112), low-power air-plasma flow (APF) was used in various modes at surgery. The Plazon apparatus is a source of plasma power. APF in the cut-coagulation mode was employed in all the patients during major surgical techniques (division of muscle masses and fascia, coagulation of minor vessels, treatment of nerve trunks). Before stump formation, an operation wound was additionally treated with cooled APF in NO-therapy mode. Comparison with a control group (n = 137) that had undergone traditional amputations revealed a significant reduction in the volume of intraoperative blood loss, the incidence of wound complications by 1.8 times, accelerated relief of fever and postoperative pain syndrome, and some clinical improvement, including the length of hospital stay.

obliterating diseases of lower limb arteries, amputations