Prevention and treatment of diabetic foot (II)

  A diabetic foot is a foot with loss of sensation due to ischemia and peripheral neuropathy in the extremity caused by vascular disease in diabetic patients and complicated by infection is called a diabetic foot, also known as gangrene of the extremity. Diabetic gangrene is not limited to the foot; ulcers or gangrene can occur in the upper extremities and hands, back, head and face, neck, and hip and sacral areas. In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes in China has been increasing year by year, and diabetic foot is also on the rise, accounting for about 20% of diabetic inpatients. It is one of the major causes of disability and death in diabetic patients, seriously threatening their quality of life and healthy longevity.  General manifestations of diabetic foot ① itchy, dry, sweatless skin, cold, swollen or dry extremities, often pigmented spots and sweat hair loss; ② muscle atrophy, malnutrition, poor tone, joint ligaments easily damaged; ③ common metatarsal head subsidence, metatarsophalangeal joint curvature, arch foot, mallet toe, chicken claw toe, Charcot’s joint, bone destruction may occur pathological fracture; ④ extremity arterial pulsation weakened or disappeared, vascular (5) Patients often have pain in the extremity, numbness, dullness or loss of sensation, a feeling of cotton wool on the feet, duck walking, intermittent claudication, rest pain, difficulty squatting and standing, and often walking with a cane; (6) Gangrene often develops gradually into ulceration, gangrene or necrosis due to blisters, blood blisters, erosions, infection and other triggers in the early stages.  Diabetic complications of gangrene are difficult to heal and have been a medical problem. For many years, high level amputations are often performed for severe cases of gangrene, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. We have made great progress in the treatment of diabetic gangrene by actively carrying out clinical and scientific research to save the diabetic foot, and the amputation rate has decreased significantly.  We have adopted a phased approach to comprehensive treatment: Basic treatment phase: control of diabetes, anti-infection, improvement of microcirculation, supportive therapy, correction of related acute and chronic complications, and for the gangrenous area to keep drainage open.  Debridement and myogenesis phase: Patients generally improve after basic treatment, followed by surgical debridement, gradual removal of necrotic tissue, and the use of various myogenic drugs to promote the growth of granulation tissue and early healing of the wound.  Arterial reconstruction phase: This is one of the most important methods for treating large-vessel lesions in patients with diabetic gangrene. It can save some of the extremities gangrene caused by large vascular lesions from amputation. We commonly use the following treatment methods: ① vascular bypass; ② endarterectomy; ③ large omentum grafting with tissues; ④ percutaneous transluminal angioplasty; ⑤ endovascular stenting; ⑥ atherosclerotic plaque spinotomy; ⑦ laser endovascular angioplasty, etc. At the same time, we use drugs for vasodilation, anticoagulation, thrombolysis, and restoration of nerve function to activate blood circulation, improve microcirculation and circulation, and promote the formation of collateral circulation and granulation neoplasm for early healing of gangrene.