The
following is forwarded from the Amputee
Listserv
As a surgeon
who must do amputations from time to time I have
several observations for you:
1.
STOP
SMOKING!
As I am sure you know, this is probably the one
thing you can do which will most improve your
chances of a good outcome. You have time between
now and the proposed date of surgery. Seek the
help of your surgeon, get one of the types of
decreasing nicotine delivery devices (Nicotrol,
Nicorette, etc.) and get into a good smoking
cessation program (free ones are sponsored by
the 7th Day Adventist Church is many
places.)
2. Use the
continuous epidural anesthetic for surgery. It
can ususally give profound anesthesia for the
surgery and yet decrease your risks.
3. Ask your
surgeon to inject the nerves before he severs
them with long acting local anethetic and then
sever them with a sharp scalpel and not tie them
or cauterize them. They will stop bleeding on
their own.
3. Ask for a
continuation of your epidural for 3-4 days post
op in order to decrease you postop pain and
decrease the chances of long term phantom
pain.
We do this very commonly with many types of
proceedures such as knee replacements and
amputations.
4. Contact
your local amputee support group for information
and peer support for the challenge you are
facing.
5. Contact the
Amputee Coalition of America for information and
support and the opportunity to network with
thousands of amputees across the United States.
The ACA can also give you information about
local support groups and resources. You may
reach the ACA at 800-355-8772.
Hope this
helps some, call us for further
questions.
Ed
Jeffries, MD, FACS
Secretary
Amputee Coalition of America
