Objective:

cross-sectional study using a questionnaire sent to 107 centres on surgical procedures and vascular examinations performed in 2018. A descriptive analysis of results and comparison of the activity ratio/100,000 population with 2016 is also presented.

Patients and methods:

cross-sectional study using a questionnaire sent to 107 centres on surgical procedures and vascular examinations performed in 2018. A descriptive analysis of results and comparison of the activity ratio/100,000 population with 2016 is also presented.

Results:

responses were received from 53 department (49.5%), including only 3 private centres. Of the 42 teaching centres, 33 responses were received (78.5%), corresponding with a 62.2% of all centres. According to received data, in 2018 there were 36,321 admissions (of which 34.3% were emergency and 65.7% were elective), with a mean hospital stay of 7.1 days. The overall arterial surgery activity in 2018 was similar to 2016, although there was a moderate decrease in the endovascular procedures rate. In some segments there were no significant changes in the ratios/100,000 population: 8.9 vs. 9.3 in supra-aortic trunks; 23.6 vs. 23.5 in the femoropopliteal segment and 9.4 vs. 10.3 in infrapopliteal segment. A relevant increase of endovascular procedures in supra-aortic trunks was found (1.6 vs. 1.2). There was a moderate decrease in the activity rate in thoracic aorta (1.53 vs 1.90), thoracic-abdominal aorta (0.43 vs. 0.49) and abdominal aorta (8.7 vs. 10.8), whereas the decrease in obstructive pathology of aortic-iliac segment was relevant (9.2 vs. 13.1). In 2018 there was also a moderate increase of activity in the visceral arteries (2.05 vs. 1.81), in contrast to a relevant decrease in the number of hemodialysis access procedures (17.8 vs. 25.3). Compared to 2016, major amputations rate was similar (7.8 vs. 7.5), with a moderate increase of minor amputations (13.5 vs. 11.6). There was also a relevant decrease in malformations (0.5 vs. 1.5). On the other hand, a relevant increase in overall venous surgery activity was found in 2018 (80.3 vs. 66.6). There increase was found in varicous veins procedures and also in thrombotic disease procedures. A relevant decrease of the vascular examination ratio/10000 population was found (607.9 vs. 850.6).

Conclusion:

a mild decrease in the overall arterial surgical activity was found because of the moderate decrease in endovascular procedures, especially those related to the aorta. The overall venous surgical activity increased significantly because of a higher number in endovascular procedures. There was a relevant decrease of vascular examinations. Compared to 2016, there was an increase in participating centres, which may condition the interpretation of the results.

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