AAA benchmarking by Dr Foster: a cause for concern?

Introduction: The publication of interpretable performance data for hospitals is an important service. In November 2002, the medical benchmarking company Dr Foster published a league table based on the results of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The purpose of our study was to establish the validity of the data used in benchmarking.

11-year experience with anatomical and extra-anatomical repair of mycotic aortic aneurysms.

Background: We have reviewed our management, of both ruptured and non-ruptured, abdominal and thoraco-abdominal mycotic aneurysms in order to determine the safety and efficacy of in situ and extra-anatomical prosthetic repairs.

Methods: Data regarding presenting symptoms, investigations, operative techniques and outcome, were collected on patients treated at a singe centre over 11 years.

Results: There were 11 men and four women, with a median age of 70 years (range, 24-79).

Renal dysfunction and prolonged visceral ischaemia increase mortality rate after suprarenal aneurysm repair.

Background: Elective juxtarenal abdominal aneurysm repair has a significantly lower mortality rate than suprarenal repair. Identification of factors affecting outcome may lead to a reduction in mortality rate for suprarenal repair.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively between 1993 and 2000 for 130 patients who underwent type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA) repair and 44 patients who had juxtarenal aneurysm (JRA) repair.

Patency following successful thrombolysis of occluded vascular grafts.

Aim: to determine patency after successful lysis of occluded bypass grafts.

Methods: data were collected from four centres with a wide experience of thrombolysis. Outcome following successful lysis was determined from prospectively collected data or case notes.