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Surgical Endoscopy
Published in: Surgical Endoscopy 1/2014

01-01-2014

The role of caseload in determining outcome following laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection: an observational study

Authors: Elaine M. Burns, Ravikrishna Mamidanna, Andy Currie, Alex Bottle, Paul Aylin, Ara Darzi, Omar D. Faiz

Published in: Surgical Endoscopy | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

This study aimed to evaluate using national data the role of surgeon laparoscopic caseload in determining outcome following elective laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection.

Methods

All patients who underwent an elective laparoscopic primary colorectal cancer resection between 2002 and 2008 were included from the Hospital Episode Statistics database. Surgeon teams were divided into tertiles according to the mean laparoscopic caseload per year. High volume corresponded to more than 12 laparoscopic procedures per year and low volume corresponded to seven or fewer procedures per year. Outcome measures were 30-day in-hospital mortality, return to theatre (RTT), 30-day medical morbidity, 365-day medical morbidity, length of stay (LOS), and unplanned 28-day readmission.

Results

There was a significant increase in the number of surgeons selecting patients for the laparoscopic approach between 2002–2003 and 2007–2008. In 2002–2003, a total of 41 surgeon teams performed laparoscopic resections whereas in 2007–2008 there were 398 surgeon teams. The patients of high-volume surgeon teams had a shorter LOS [OR 0.88 (0.85–0.91), p < 0.0001]. Patients of medium-volume surgeon teams had the highest medical morbidity rates [30-day medical morbidity: OR 1.24 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015; 365-day medical morbidity: OR 1.22 (1.04–1.45), p = 0.018]. There were no differences between the high- and low-volume groups in terms of mortality, morbidity, RTT, or readmission.

Conclusion

Although there has been a significant increase in the number of surgeon teams offering the minimal access approach, this study has not found a consistent relationship between surgeon laparoscopic cancer surgery caseload and outcome.

What’s new in this manuscript

This is the first national study to explore the role of surgical volume in determining outcome following laparoscopic surgery. This study questions the impact of surgeon caseload on laparoscopic surgical outcome.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The role of caseload in determining outcome following laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection: an observational study
Authors
Elaine M. Burns
Ravikrishna Mamidanna
Andy Currie
Alex Bottle
Paul Aylin
Ara Darzi
Omar D. Faiz
Publication date
01-01-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Surgical Endoscopy / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 0930-2794
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2218
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-013-3139-5

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