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Article
Long-term impact of the Vascular Study Group of New England carotid patch quality initiative.
Journal of vascular surgery : official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter.
  • Leia Edenfield, Maine Medical Center
  • Elizabeth Blazick, Maine Medical Center
  • Christopher Healey, Maine Medical Center
  • Robert Hawkins, Maine Medical Center
  • Paul Bloch, Maine Medical Center
  • Jens Eldrup-Jorgensen, Maine Medical Center
  • Brian Nolan, Maine Medical Center
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Institution/Department
Surgery
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Patch angioplasty has been shown to decrease rates of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). In 2003, the Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) implemented its first quality initiative aimed at increasing the rates of patch closure after CEA. This study reports the effects of that initiative on the rate of patch closure in the VSGNE and also postoperative and 1-year CEA outcomes.

METHODS: Patients undergoing CEA (N = 14,636) within the VSGNE between 2003 and 2014 were studied. Rates of in-hospital postoperative events (death, ipsilateral stroke or transient ischemic attack [TIA], and return to the operating room for bleeding) and events during 1 year of follow-up (stroke or TIA and restenosis >70% or occlusion) were compared by repair type-patch closure, primary closure, or eversion. One-year follow-up events were also compared over time and by annualized surgeon volume.

RESULTS: During the 12 years studied, patch use increased from 71% to 91% (P < .001). There was no difference in postoperative death or ipsilateral stroke or TIA between the repair types. However, there was a statistically lower rate of return to the operating room for bleeding (P < .001), 1-year stroke or TIA (P < .003), and 1-year restenosis or occlusion (P < .001) with patch closure. Overall, the rates of 1-year stroke or TIA and restenosis decreased over time in the VSGNE. The initiative affected patch closure rates and outcomes of high-volume surgeons (>47 CEAs/y) the most. High-volume surgeons increased patch use from 50% to 90% and decreased their restenosis rates from 9.0% to 1.2% and 1-year stroke or TIA from 4.9% to 1.9% (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: The VSGNE carotid patch quality initiative successfully increased the rates of CEA patch closure. During the same time, there has been a decrease in postoperative bleeding requiring reoperation and 1-year ipsilateral neurologic events and restenosis or occlusion.

Comments

Leia Edenfield- Resident

Citation Information
Leia Edenfield, Elizabeth Blazick, Christopher Healey, Robert Hawkins, et al.. "Long-term impact of the Vascular Study Group of New England carotid patch quality initiative." Journal of vascular surgery : official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter. Vol. 69 Iss. 6 (2019) p. 1801 - 1806 ISSN: 1097-6809
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/elizabeth-blazick/1/