Variation in the use of lower extremity vascular procedures for critical limb ischemia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many believe that variation in vascular practice may affect limb salvage rates in patients with severe peripheral arterial disease. However, the extent of variation in procedural vascular care obtained by patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) remains unknown.

Methods and results

By using Medicare 2003 to 2006 data, we identified all patients with CLI who underwent major lower extremity amputation in the 306 hospital referral regions described in the Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare. For each patient, we studied the use of lower extremity vascular procedures (open surgery or endovascular intervention) in the year before amputation. Our main outcome measure was the intensity of vascular care, defined as the proportion of patients in the hospital referral region un

SUBMITTER: Goodney PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3281555 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature