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Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 4/2011

01-04-2011 | 2010 SSAT Poster Presentation

Elective Resection of Colon Cancer by High-Volume Surgeons Is Associated with Decreased Morbidity and Mortality

Authors: Sebastien Drolet, Anthony R. MacLean, Robert P. Myers, Abdel Aziz M. Shaheen, Elijah Dixon, W. Donald Buie

Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery | Issue 4/2011

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Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine whether morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing elective resection of colon cancer are associated with surgeon or hospital volume.

Methods

Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified all adult patients who underwent elective resection for colon cancer as their primary procedure between 2003 and 2007. Cases were divided into three groups according to the mean number of resections performed annually by each surgeon: low volume (≤4/year), intermediate volume (5–9/year), or high volume (≥10/year). Annual hospital case-load was also categorized as low volume (≤30/year), intermediate volume (31–60/year), and high volume (≥61/year). Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify differences in morbidity and mortality.

Results

A total of 54,000 patients underwent resection of colon cancer by 7,313 surgeons in 1,398 hospitals. After adjusting for important covariates including hospital volume, colon cancer resection by high-volume surgeons was an independent predictor of decreased morbidity (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85–0.97) and mortality (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65–0.86). Mortality was lowest among patients operated on by high-volume surgeons in high-volume hospitals (2.2% vs. 3.9%; OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.46–0.68).

Conclusions

In patients undergoing elective resection of colon cancer, procedures done by high-volume surgeons are associated with decreased morbidity and mortality.
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Metadata
Title
Elective Resection of Colon Cancer by High-Volume Surgeons Is Associated with Decreased Morbidity and Mortality
Authors
Sebastien Drolet
Anthony R. MacLean
Robert P. Myers
Abdel Aziz M. Shaheen
Elijah Dixon
W. Donald Buie
Publication date
01-04-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 1091-255X
Electronic ISSN: 1873-4626
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-011-1433-x

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