Evaluating preventable adverse safety events after elective lower extremity procedures

Background Improving patient safety has become a national priority. Patient safety indicators (PSIs) are validated tools to identify potentially preventable adverse events. No studies currently exist for evaluating lower extremity (LE) vascular procedures and the occurrence of PSIs. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2003-2007) was queried for elective LE angioplasty (endo) and bypass (open). PSIs appropriate to surgery were analyzed by χ 2 and logistic regression analyses. Results A total of 226,501 LE interventions (104,491 endo; 122,010 open) were evaluated. The rate of developing any PSI was 7.74% (open) and 8.51% (endo), P P Conclusions Endovascular procedures were found to have lower mortality rates overall, but were found to have a greater number of safety events occur primarily due to bleeding complications in women and the elderly. PSIs were associated with advanced age, black race, and comorbidities. Adverse events added significant cost, occurred more frequently in teaching and large hospitals, and future organizational analysis may improve safety and reduce cost.