Retrospective analysis of 1,203 cases of referral to a quaternary vascular surgery outpatient clinic within the Unified Health System, São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: Through a retrospective analysis of 1,203 cases of referral from primary healthcare units to a specialized quaternary vascular surgical service, the findings of this study revealed a high proportion of inappropriate referrals, which may represent a substantial subutilization of this highly complex service. Consequently, in this study, we aimed to evaluate 1,203 cases of referral to a quaternary vascular surgical service, in São Paulo, Brazil, over a 6-year period, to assess the appropriate need for referral; in addition to the prevalence of surgical indications.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we reviewed the institutional records of participants referred from Basic Healthcare Units to a vascular surgical service inside the Brazilian Unified Health System, between May 2015 and December 2020.