Questionnaires

For each patient a maximum of three clinical questionnaires were to be completed. The questionnaires were either sent to the NCEPOD local reporter to disseminate or directly to the clinician involved, depending upon the choice of the hospital.

A questionnaire was completed by the surgeon that performed the aneurysm repair or made the decision not to operate if the patient did not undergo surgery. In cases where surgery was not performed and the patient died before being seen by a surgeon, the admitting consultant was asked to complete the questionnaire. This questionnaire covered aspects such as comorbidities, preoperative assessment and details of the operation.

A separate questionnaire was also completed by the senior anaesthetist involved in the repair or decision not to operate and covered details about preoperative investigations and the anaesthetic.

If endovascular repair of the aneurysm was performed, a supplementary questionnaire was sent to the radiologist involved in the case.

Hospitals were also asked to complete an organisational questionnaire relating to the facilities at the hospital.