Amputation query

Schlemm

What happens to the blood vessels in an amputated limb? Do new capillaries form?

And how do the bigger arteries supplying the amputated limb not pool with blood and rupture?

Also what happens to people with clotting disorders who need an amputation?

Zillah

Schlemm wrote:

Also what happens to people with clotting disorders who need an amputation?

Its a guess, but I assume they'd apply artifical coagulants?

Traumadoc

usually there is no need for new cappillaries to form. as amputation is through viable tissue only.


During amputation the large blood vessels are tied off (ligated) the blood flow is diverted to other branches , so the pressure does not build up.


Major surgery carried out on people with clotting disorders is preceeded by giving clotting factors, to return their clotting to normal. The cost of these operations can run into hundreds of thousands of euros as a result.

Zillah

Traumadoc wrote:

the blood flow is diverted to other branches , so the pressure does not build up.

What about old style "tie it with a belt and chop it with a saw" amputations? Or the more traditional, "tiger bites it off"?

Capt'n Midnight

wasn't there something about a link between smoking and amputations ?

Traumadoc

Most amputations I carried out were because of smoking.