Validation of the VASCUNET registry - pilot study.

BACKGROUND

VASCUNET is an international registry of vascular surgical (open and endovascular) procedures since 1997. The aim of this paper is to describe a pilot validation performed at three hospitals in Hungary in September 2012.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three core indications were checked: abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease and limb ischemia with infrainguinal treatment.

RESULTS

2439 registered procedures had been reported with between 94 and 109 per cent agreement with hospital administrative numbers. In a random sample of 29 patients the VASCUNET data were compared with the patient records regarding risk factors, procedures performed and in hospital results. Only few discrepancies were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The conclusions are that validation is feasible, that this pilot project in Hungary showed good agreement between registry and local patient records. For a registry to be accepted and used both for practical and scientific purposes regular validation by senior surgeons should be undertaken and the vascular surgical community must have a budget for such a process.