Quantity of Randomised Controlled Trials Relative to Operative Workload in Major Vascular Surgery: A…

ReviewEuropean journal of vascular and endovascular surgery : the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery· Jul 2026

Quantity of Randomised Controlled Trials Relative to Operative Workload in Major Vascular Surgery: A Systematic Review and Comparison with UK National Vascular Registry Data.

Harri G Jones, Alex Murigu, Callum Weston … David C Bosanquet

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Vascular SurgeryReviewQ1IF 3.1

Major lower limb amputation is the least studied vascular procedure relative to its workload.

Quantity of Randomised Controlled Trials Relative to Operative Workload in Major Vascular Surgery: A Systematic Review and Comparison with UK National Vascular Registry Data.

Harri G Jones … David C Bosanquet

European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Surgery

Background

Changes in vascular practice have altered workloads across major procedures.

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the number of randomised controlled trials (randomised controlled trials) supporting key vascular surgery procedures and compare them with UK operative workload.

Methods

A systematic review identified randomised controlled trials related to abdominal aortic aneurysm (abdominal aortic aneurysm) repair, carotid endarterectomy, lower limb revascularisation, and major lower limb amputation since 1990.

n = 744 eligible RCTs

Results

amputation is the most underrepresented procedure relative to its workload

8.1per 10

Open AAA repair

4.5per 10

Carotid endarterectomy

2.4per 10

Endovascular AAA repai

2.1per 10

Open lower limb revasc

More results

Endovascular lower limb revascularisation trials were largely efficacy dominant (72.4%) with a large proportion being industry funded (39.3%).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Major amputation and lower limb revascularisation appear underrepresented in research trials compared with carotid endarterectomy and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, relative to UK operative workload.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Future research agendas and funding strategies should consider proportionality when prioritising.

Quantity of Randomised Controlled Trials Relative to Operative Workload in Major Vascular Surgery: A Systematic Review and Comparison with UK National Vascular Registry Data.

Quantity of Randomised Controlled Trials Relative to Operative Workload in Major Vascular Surgery: A Systematic Review and Comparison with UK National Vascular Registry Data.

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