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Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease 2/2013

01-02-2013 | Original Article

The association of hospital volume with rectal cancer surgery outcomes

Authors: Jeong-Heum Baek, Abdulhadi Alrubaie, Eduardo A. Guzman, Sun Keun Choi, Casandra Anderson, Steven Mills, Joseph Carmichael, Andy Dagis, Dajun Qian, Joseph Kim, Julio Garcia-Aguilar, Michael J. Stamos, Lisa Bening, Alessio Pigazzi

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 2/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

An association between hospital volume and postoperative mortality has been identified for several oncologic surgical procedures. Our objective was to analyze differences in surgical outcomes for patients with rectal cancer according to hospital volume in the state of California.

Methods

A cross-sectional study from 2000 to 2005 was performed using the state of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database. Hospitals were categorized into low (≤30)-, medium (31–60)-, and high (>60)-volume groups based on the total number of rectal cancer operations performed during the study period.

Results

Overall, 7,187 rectal cancer operations were performed. Of the 321 hospitals in the study cohort, 72 % (n = 232), 20 % (n = 65), and 8 % (n = 24) were low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals, respectively. Postoperative mortality was significantly lower- in high-volume hospitals (0.9 %) when compared to medium- (1.1 %) and low-volume hospitals (2.1 %; p < 0.001). High-volume hospitals also performed more sphincter-preserving procedures (64 %) when compared to medium- (55 %) and low-volume hospitals (51 %; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

These data indicate that hospital volume correlates with improved outcomes in rectal cancer surgery. Rectal cancer patients may benefit from lower mortality and increased sphincter preservation in higher-volume centers.
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Metadata
Title
The association of hospital volume with rectal cancer surgery outcomes
Authors
Jeong-Heum Baek
Abdulhadi Alrubaie
Eduardo A. Guzman
Sun Keun Choi
Casandra Anderson
Steven Mills
Joseph Carmichael
Andy Dagis
Dajun Qian
Joseph Kim
Julio Garcia-Aguilar
Michael J. Stamos
Lisa Bening
Alessio Pigazzi
Publication date
01-02-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-012-1536-1

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