[Vascular surgical procedures in Denmark 1996-2004. Own vascular surgical services associated with a higher incidence of operations].

Introduction: International studies indicate that decentralised vascular surgical activity could have a positive influence on the organisation of vascular services in Denmark.
Materials and Methods: Numbers of vascular operations in 1994-2004 in the various Danish counties were collected from the Danish National Vascular Registry (www.karbase.dk). Incidences were compared by z-test. P-values were corrected by the Bonferroni method.
Results: The incidence of operations for carotid stenosis, critical lower limb ischaemia, and acute lower limb ischaemia 68% (P<0.01), 26% (P < 0.01), and 16% (p < 0.01) higher in counties with own vascular surgical services compared to counties without own vascular service. The incidence of operations for carotid stenosis was 22% higher in counties offering such operations compared to counties offering most other vascular surgical except carotid thrombendarterectomies (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Own vascular surgical services in Denmark are associated with a higher incidence of operations, thus preventing stroke and amputation.