AAA turn down audit

AAA turn down audit

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 09:19

Vascular Society's Snapshot Audit

Dear Colleague

Whilst the NVD provides valuable information on outcomes following interventions for core vascular procedures, it cannot describe the entirety of vascular practice. Recognising this, we have sought the views of the membership about potential changes to the NVD which we hope to bring forward in the autumn.

One clear request was for us to undertake an audit of the rate at which AAA patients are turned down. We are going to undertake an initial snapshot audit asking for all members to notify each AAA of 5.5cm or larger, or symptomatic/ruptured AAA that are turned down for intervention between 5th September 2011 and 23rd October 2011 inclusive.

To minimise the work involved, we have a very brief (just 9 short questions) questionnaire which can be accessed and submitted online here.

We will be preparing a report to circulate at the AGM, and for us to make a valid comparison, it is important that units enter all AAA interventions in real time, so that we have complete data for this time period. It will not be necessary to have discharge dates completed, as long as the patient age, gender and date of intervention are recorded.

Please help us to make this audit a success by entering all your cases as this will provide a baseline measure for the society to understand the wider implications of our AAA service.

David Mitchell,
Chair Audit and QI committee

Mike Wyatt
Secretary