Type of publication:
Conference abstract
Author(s):
Slade R., *Sukha A., *Sykes T.
Citation:
International Journal of Surgery, November 2015, vol./is. 23/(S131)
Abstract:
Aim: BMT is a key component in the management of patients with vascular disease. The aim of this study is to determine how well BMT is documented in the correspondence to primary care with particular reference to the preoperative clinic letter and discharge summary following a surgical intervention. Methods: Patients between Jan-Jun 2014 were identified from a prospectively maintained vascular-database and the corresponding clinic letters and discharge summaries were retrieved. Results: 107 patients underwent vascular surgery between Jan-Jun 2014. The operations identified were: AAA repair n=21,Carotid endarterectomy n=23,Femoral endarterectomy n= 12,Vascular bypass n=43 and Revision surgery n=8. Overall, antiplatelet therapy was documented in 79%(n=85) of pre: operative clinic letters and 96%(n=103) of discharge summaries. Similarly, lipid-lowering therapy was recorded in 79%(n=85) and 92%(n=98). Smoking status was recorded in 32 %(n=34) of pre-operative clinic letters; 21%(n=23) were smokers and all identified smokers were offered advice to stop smoking. Conclusion: Documentation of smoking status and advice is poorly recorded in the pre and post -operative correspondence to primary care and unrecorded in the discharge summary. Similarly, pre-operative anti platelet and lipid lowering therapy documentation is suboptimal. 'Best Medical Therapy,' has been implemented into a standardised clinic template and a 'smoking status/advice' section in the electronically generated discharge summary has been implemented.