Surgery residency training programmes have greater impact on outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy than hospital volume or surgeon frequency

Abstract

Background: Hospital volume of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and surgeon frequency of PD have been shown to impact outcomes. The impact of surgery residency training programmes after PD is unknown. This study was undertaken to determine the impact of surgery training programmes on outcomes after PD, as well as their importance relative to hospital volume and surgeon frequency of PD.

Methods: The State of Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration Database was queried for patients undergoing PD during 2002-2007. Measures of outcome were compared for patients undergoing PD at centres with vs. without surgery residency training programmes.

Results: A total of 2345 PDs were identified, of which 1478 (63%) were undertaken at training centres and 867 (37%) were performed at non-training centres. Patients undergoing PD at training centres had shorter lengths of stay, lower hospital charges and lower in-hospital mortality. Relative to surgeon frequency of PD, training centres had a greater favourable impact on hospital length of stay, hospital charges and in-hospital mortality (P < 0.001 for each, ancova). Relative to hospital volume of PDs undertaken, training centres had a greater impact on hospital charges (P < 0.001, ancova).

Conclusions: Surgery residency training programmes have a favourable effect on outcomes following PD and their impact on outcome is greater than the impact of hospital volume or surgeon frequency of PD.