Regional vascular surgical units: a practical means of providing specialist services

Background A comprehensive regional emergency and elective vascular surgical service was established in Limerick Regional General Hospital between 1994 and 1996 following the appointment of three surgeons with vascular training. Aim To compare vascular surgical activity before and after the establishment of a regional vascular service. Methods This study used local and national computerised databases, clinic letters, theatre registers and radiology records to compare vascular surgical activity before (1992) and after (1997) this service was established. Results Total outpatient activity increased almost six-fold and total number of inpatient vascular procedures (including radiological) increased from 146 to 432, but the venous proportion declined from 70% to 36%. The number of major arterial procedures increased from 37 to 165 in 1997 including 10 carotid endarterectomies, 24 aortic reconstructions and 54 lower limb reconstructions representing rates of 3/100,000, 8/100,000 and 17/100,000 population respectively. Conclusion As substantial changes in disease patterns are unlikely, these data indicate that patients previously diverted elsewhere for therapy are now cared for within the health board region and that further increases in workload may be expected. We suggest that these data mandate the reallocation of resources to fund appropriately staffed and audited regional vascular units.