Sepsis as a cause of fatal cases after the lower limbs amputation at the hip level due to gangrene in patients with a diabetic foot syndrome

Abstract

Purpose of the study. To study frequency of fatal sepsis, the causes and severity of diabetes patients complicated by diabetic foot syndrome of the gangrene limb, after amputation of the lower limb at the hip level.
 Material and methods. Amputation of the lower limb at the hip level was performed in 180 patients with diabetic foot, gangrene of the limb. 15 (8,3%) died. Results. From the 15 patients who died, 9 died from sepsis. The age was 54–78 years old. On admission, sepsis was diagnosed in 5 and septic shock – in 4 patients. After examination and preparation, emergency surgeries were performed in 4 patients and urgent surgeries – in 5. Twoand three-step surgeries were performed in 5 patients. They first performed the removal of the toes of the gangrene, osteomyelitis, opened deep phlegmon of the foot and the lower leg was completed by amputation of the lower limb. Primary amputations were performed in 4 patients. Sepsis was the cause of death in 5 patients from 11 to 60 days and the combinations of sepsis with acute myocardial infarction or repeated myocardial infarction – in 4 from 5 to 17 days. During the autopsy, pathological changes of severe diabetes, complicated diabetic foot syndrome, its mixed form, sepsis with manifestations of septicemia or septicopyjemia, and all organs and systems were revealed.
 Conclusions. The unsatisfactory organization of medical care for patients with diabetes and diabetic foot syndrome at the pre hospital stage, ineffective sanitary and educational work, systemic pathological changes led to sepsis and death after the amputation of the lower limb at the hip level.