title: Factors affecting the results of surgery for chronic critical leg ischemia--a nationwide survey. Finnvasc Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the factors affecting immediate outcome of surgery for chronic critical leg ischemia, especially the influence of surgeon's caseload and hospital volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of Finnvasc registry were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 11,747 surgical vascular reconstructions included 1,761 operations for chronic critical leg ischemia during 1991 to 1994.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day postoperative leg amputation rate was 7.5% and the mortality rate 4.7%. Diabetes, previous vascular surgery or amputation, preoperative ulcer or gangrene, a surgeon's annual caseload fewer than 10 operations, and hospital volume fewer than 20 operations for chronic critical leg ischemia adversely affected amputation rates. The presence of coronary artery disease and renal dysfunction increased postoperative mortality rates. Both amputation rates and postoperative mortality rates were affected by the type of procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A surgeon's caseload and hospital volume affect amputation rate, but not mortality rate, in patients operated for chronic critical leg ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kantonen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepäntalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salenius
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ylönen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005734:Gangrene / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012042:Registries; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation