Effect of the application of a diabetic protocol in a general surgery service

Abstract

Aim: The main objective in the patient with diabetic foot is to avoid amputation, thus, this study pretended to analyze the effect produced by the introduction of a protocol for the diabetic foot in our Department of Health.

Materials and Method: It is a retrospective study. Age, sex, amputation and re-amputations rate in the first month, the average stay and the hospital re-entry were evaluated, the request for specific complementary analytical and radiological tests (blood test analytics with glycosylated hemoglobin and CT/MR/doppler arterial limb angiography) and patients remitted to the reference center to assess revascularization. All these data were analyzed comparing the patients admitted with diagnosis of diabetic foot in the period before to the implementation of the protocol (years 2010 to 2013) with those of the subsequent period (years 2014 to 2018).

Results: Homogeneous groups were compared by age and sex. The result of the analysis was a significant reduction in the rate of amputations (172 versus 111, average of 22.2 ± 9.9), re-amputations (41 versus 15) and re-entry due to poor evolution in the first month (18 versus 7). No changes were found in the number of complementary radiological tests performed and the number of patients remitted to the reference hospital to assess revascularization.

Conclusions: In the multidisciplinary management, the general surgeon is one of the important pillars. The implementation of an action protocol for the diabetic foot significantly reduces the amputation rate.