Local audit in vascular surgery

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Surgical Audit

Background:

• The Southampton Vascular Unit's workload was audited over two years.
• Discrepancies were noted between the unit's activity and national benchmarks.
• The patient population is characterized by advanced age and high surgical risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the workload and surgical activity of a vascular unit.
• To compare local surgical practices against national standards.
• To emphasize the importance of local audit in vascular surgery.

Main Methods:

• A two-year retrospective audit of surgical procedures.
• Comparison of performed procedures against nationally accepted figures.
• Analysis of patient demographics and surgical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Reconstructive vascular surgeries, excluding emergency aortic aneurysm grafting, were performed more frequently than anticipated.
• A significant proportion of patients were elderly and at high risk for major surgery.
• Mortality rates were considerable, often linked to cardiac or renal complications.

Conclusions:

• Local audits are crucial for identifying and addressing discrepancies in vascular surgery workload.
• The increasing elderly population will likely augment the demand for vascular services.
• Vascular surgery units must adapt to the challenges posed by high-risk, elderly patient populations.