Amputation
Nursing Management
Patient With An Amputation
Aries Nubla
Amputation
Is the removal of a body part, and most commonly a limb
(Cheever & Hinkle, 2013).
Used to relieve symptoms, improve functions and to save or improve the patient’s quality of life (Cheever & Hinkle, 2013).
Can be elective due to complications of the vascular disease often of diabetes. ex. Gangrene, trauma (burns, crushing injury, electrical burns, frostbite, explosions)
Vascular disease accounts for 82% of all amputations with
97% results in lower limb amputations. This is called dysvascular amputation.
Men and African-Americans are at a higher risk for dysvascular amputations and the risk increases with age
Amputation Cont.
Upper limb amputations occurs less frequently compared to lower limb amputation and happens due to trauma or malignant tumors
Objective of the surgery is to conserve as much limb length as possible to function with or without prosthesis and preservation of knee and elbow joints are always desirable, if possible.
Two key components of the body that is significant in healing are muscle and tissue perfusion. Caregivers assess this by physical examination and diagnostic tools such as: Doppler flow studies with duplex ultrasound, segmental blood pressure determinations, and transcutaneous partial pressure of arterial oxygen.
It is also performed at the distal point of a limb that will heal successfully. Levels of Amputation
The site of amputation is determined by two factors: adequate blood supply for healing and functional usefulness for prosthesis compatibility.
Amputations are described in regards to the extremity and its location.
AE- above elbow BE- below elbow
AK/A- above knee BK/A- below knee
Syme- ankle disarticulation (amputation through the ankle joint)
Disarticulation- amputation through a joint
Complications
Hemorrhage or massive bleeding
Infection (always a risk with any surgical procedure) Skin breakdown (irritation with prosthesis use) Phantom limb pain due
Patient With An Amputation
Aries Nubla
Amputation
Is the removal of a body part, and most commonly a limb
(Cheever & Hinkle, 2013).
Used to relieve symptoms, improve functions and to save or improve the patient’s quality of life (Cheever & Hinkle, 2013).
Can be elective due to complications of the vascular disease often of diabetes. ex. Gangrene, trauma (burns, crushing injury, electrical burns, frostbite, explosions)
Vascular disease accounts for 82% of all amputations with
97% results in lower limb amputations. This is called dysvascular amputation.
Men and African-Americans are at a higher risk for dysvascular amputations and the risk increases with age
Amputation Cont.
Upper limb amputations occurs less frequently compared to lower limb amputation and happens due to trauma or malignant tumors
Objective of the surgery is to conserve as much limb length as possible to function with or without prosthesis and preservation of knee and elbow joints are always desirable, if possible.
Two key components of the body that is significant in healing are muscle and tissue perfusion. Caregivers assess this by physical examination and diagnostic tools such as: Doppler flow studies with duplex ultrasound, segmental blood pressure determinations, and transcutaneous partial pressure of arterial oxygen.
It is also performed at the distal point of a limb that will heal successfully. Levels of Amputation
The site of amputation is determined by two factors: adequate blood supply for healing and functional usefulness for prosthesis compatibility.
Amputations are described in regards to the extremity and its location.
AE- above elbow BE- below elbow
AK/A- above knee BK/A- below knee
Syme- ankle disarticulation (amputation through the ankle joint)
Disarticulation- amputation through a joint
Complications
Hemorrhage or massive bleeding
Infection (always a risk with any surgical procedure) Skin breakdown (irritation with prosthesis use) Phantom limb pain due