All AEs after infrainguinal bypass graft procedures (BGPs) in three health care facilities in the Netherlands were evaluated. AEs were defined identically in the facilities.
Of 601 BGPs performed, 662 AEs were registered. Independent predictors of AEs were female gender (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.39-3.26; P < .01), age ≥60 years (OR, 0.57; 95 % CI, 0.34-0.95; P = .03), American Society of Anesthesiologists classification 3-4 (OR, 1.79; 95 % CI, 1.01-3.17; P = .05), comorbidities of pulmonary disease (OR, 2.99; 95 % CI, 1.67-5.34; P < .01) and diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.49; 95 % CI, 1.58-3.94; P < .01), distal anastomosis level at below knee femoropopliteal BGP (OR, 2.01; 95 % CI, 1.26-3.22; P < .01), femorotibial BGP (OR, 2.40; 95 % CI, 1.37-4.19; P < .01), and popliteopedal BGP (OR, 92.39; 95 % CI, 11.13-766.98; P < .01). One health care facility had significantly fewer AEs than the other two (OR, 0.21; 95 % CI, 0.13-0.35; P < .01).
Age, gender, comorbidity, and type of surgery are all independent predictors of AE occurrence in vascular surgery. After adjustment for differences in these factors, one health care facility still had lower AE occurrence, which needs to be examined further.