Auditing a nationwide vascular registry--the 4-year Finnvasc experience. Finnvasc Study Group.

Abstract

To assess the validity of a national vascular registry. 17,465 vascular and endovascular procedures, immediate reoperations excluded, registered in the Finnvasc registry from 26 centres during the years 1991-1994. Comparison of the number of registered procedures with hospital records, comparison of initial registrations with a random sample of re-registration and comparison of the 1-year local data input of one major centre to the same data input of the central unit. The rate of missing registrations was 19% ranging from 0-47%. The data of the re-registered forms were in agreement with the original data in 93% of all data points, the range being from 81-100%. There was a difference of 1.5% in the data between the major centre and the central unit. The Finnvasc registry makes it possible to audit vascular surgery nationally, although a potential limitation is centres with low registration rates.