Effect of operative volume on morbidity, mortality, and hospital use after esophagectomy for cancer☆☆☆

Abstract Objective: We sought to evaluate the effect of operative volume, hospital size, and cancer specialization on morbidity, mortality, and hospital use after esophagectomy for cancer. Methods: Data derived from the Health Care Utilization Project was used to evaluate all Medicare-reimbursed esophagectomies for treatment of cancer from 1994 to 1996 in 13 national cancer institutions and 88 community hospitals. The complications of care, length of stay, hospital charges, and mortality were assessed according to hospital size (≥600 beds vs Results: Mortality was lower in national cancer institution hospitals (4.2% [confidence interval, 2.0%-6.4%] vs 13.3% [confidence interval, 4.2%-26.2%], P = .05) and in hospitals performing a large number of esophagectomies (3.0% [confidence interval, 0.09%-5.1%] vs 12.2% [confidence interval, 4.5%-19.8%], P P = .03) and not the number of nonesophageal operations, hospital size, or cancer specialization. Hospitals performing a large number of esophagectomies also showed a tendency toward decreased complications (55% vs 68%, P = .06), decreased length of stay (14.7 days vs 17.7 days, P = .006), and decreased charges ($39,867 vs $62,094, P Conclusions: These results demonstrate improved outcomes and decreased hospital use in hospitals that perform a large number of esophagectomies and support the concept of tertiary referral centers for such complex oncologic procedures as esophagectomies. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:1126-34)