The Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Quality Improvement Programme (AAAQIP) was initiated after the UK was found to have a high outlying mortality rate for aortic aneurysm surgery at 7.9%, compared to the rest of Europe at 3.5%, [Vascunet 2008].
The Vascular Society was successful in obtaining a grant of £380,000 from the Health Foundation to run the programme nationally and achieve the aim of reducing elective mortality in the UK to 3.5% by 2013.
The programme has rolled out involving joint collaboration from the VASGBI and BSIR with relevant Cardiac and Stroke Networks and patient involvement.
The key findings and recommendations to date are captured below with a view to engaging those involved in the care of patients with aortic aneurysm in the remaining year of the programme.