Characteristics of patients presenting to the vascular emergency department of a tertiary care hospital: a 2-year study

Ioannis Kotsikoris,Polyvios Pavlidis,Nikolaos Papanas,Stamatia Kotsiou,Paraskevi Tsiantula,Nikolaos Bessias,Efstratios Maltezos,Dimitrios Maras,Maria Andrikopoulou,Theofanis T Papas

doi:10.1186/1756-0500-4-481

Ioannis Kotsikoris, Polyvios Pavlidis + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-4-481

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Abstract

BackgroundThe structure of health care in Greece is receiving increased attention to improve its cost-effectiveness. We sought to examine the epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting to the vascular emergency department of a Greek tertiary care hospital during a 2-year period. We studied all patients presenting to the emergency department of vascular surgery at Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2010.ResultsOverall, 2452 (49.4%) out of 4961 patients suffered from pathologies that should have been treated in primary health care. Only 2509 (50.6%) needed vascular surgical intervention.ConclusionsThe emergency department of vascular surgery in a Greek tertiary care hospital has to treat a remarkably high percentage of patients suitable for the primary health care level. These results suggest that an improvement in the structure of health care is needed in Greece.

Highlights

The structure of health care in Greece is receiving increased attention to improve its costeffectiveness
It is frequented by patients suffering from chronic vascular diseases that could be treated at the primary health care level or in the outpatient vascular clinics [1,2,3]
The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting to the vascular emergency department of a Greek tertiary care hospital during a 2-year period

Summary

Introduction

The structure of health care in Greece is receiving increased attention to improve its costeffectiveness. It is frequented by patients suffering from chronic vascular diseases that could be treated at the primary health care level or in the outpatient vascular clinics [1,2,3]. Such conditions include, for instance, chronic intermittent claudication, varicose veins, lymphoedema, or lower extremity infections. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting to the vascular emergency department of a Greek tertiary care hospital during a 2-year period

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Discussion

Conclusion