The changing workload of a surgical unit with a vascular interest.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the changing relationship between general and vascular surgical workload on a vascular "firm", over a 6-year period.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
Leicester Royal Infirmary and Professorial Surgical Unit, U.K. 1987-1992.


METHODS
Analysis of audit of all surgical admissions. Relation of vascular surgery to general surgery.


RESULTS
There has been a slight decrease (5%) in the number of general surgical elective admissions. Overall, the number of general surgical admissions, both elective and emergency, show a slight increase of about 3%. In contrast the number of vascular admissions increased by 42%. Of the general surgical procedures carried out 75.9% were either minor or intermediate, whereas 92.5% of vascular procedures were coded as major or higher. There has been a three times increase in the number of carotid endarterectomies, a similar increase in the number of the femorodistal bypass grafts and a halving of the number of major amputations. There has also been a five times increase in the number of angioplasties carried out.


CONCLUSIONS
Our figures show the progressive, rapid increase in vascular surgical workload, compared to general surgery, and the need for the continued expansion of vascular surgery as a speciality.
Budd
J S
JS
Department of Surgery, University of Leicester, U.K.
Reid
A
A
Thompson
M
M
Sayers
R
R
Naylor
R
R
Bell
P R
PR
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000601:surgery; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008485:Medical Audit; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*