Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the validity of a national vascular registry.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
17,465 vascular and endovascular procedures, immediate reoperations excluded, registered in the Finnvasc registry from 26 centres during the years 1991-1994.
CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES:
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.
RESULTS:
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.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Finnvasc registry makes it possible to audit vascular surgery nationally, although a potential limitation is centres with low registration rates.