Concurrent audit of early outcome for 1,617 consecutive arterial reconstructions

A concurrent audit of 1,617 consecutive arterial reconstructions performed by one surgeon in three different hospitals is reported. Permanent perioperative neurologic morbidity rate after 766 operations for cerebrovascular disease was 3.1 percent. There was no statistical difference with regard to permanent neurologic morbidity rate among three different hospitals. Perioperative mortality rate for repair of unruptured aortic aneurysms was 5.9 and 46 percent for ruptured aortic aneurysms. Mortality rate of aortofemoral reconstruction and infrainguinal bypass grafting was 4.3 and 2.8 percent, respectively. There was no perioperative extensive amputation after aortofemoral reconstructions. Major amputation was unavoidable in 2.4 percent of the patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass. Physicians performing high-risk procedures should keep concurrent outcome data so the benefits and risks of a procedure can be objectively evaluated.