ABSTRACT
To know the frequency of the amputation and clinical features and reasons why limb amputations were performed in patients with extremity arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), we reviewed the database of patients with congenital vascular malformations (CVMs) in a specialized CVM center. Major limb amputation was required in 3.9% of patients with extremity AVMs, and the most common indication for amputations was severe uncontrollable pain followed by a nonfunctioning or deformed affected limb and frequent episodes of external bleeding from the AVM lesion. Limb amputation in patients with AVM was different from that in patients with arterial occlusive disease. The demarcation between AVM lesion and normal tissue is not so clear that complete removal of AVMs may not be available with a standard limb amputation procedure. After amputation, postoperative follow-up with an imaging study is required to find residual or recurrent AVMs, and endovascular treatment may be required to treat them.
