Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012:2012:760292.
doi: 10.1155/2012/760292. Epub 2012 Nov 4.

Surgeons' volume-outcome relationship for lobectomies and wedge resections for cancer using video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques

Guy David  1 , Candace L Gunnarsson, Matt Moore, John Howington, Daniel L Miller, Michael A Maddaus, Robert Joseph McKenna Jr, Bryan F Meyers, Scott J Swanson
Affiliations

Surgeons' volume-outcome relationship for lobectomies and wedge resections for cancer using video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques

Guy David et al. Minim Invasive Surg. 2012.

Abstract

This study examined the effect of surgeons' volume on outcomes in lung surgery: lobectomies and wedge resections. Additionally, the effect of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) on cost, utilization, and adverse events was analyzed. The Premier Hospital Database was the data source for this analysis. Eligible patients were those of any age undergoing lobectomy or wedge resection using VATS for cancer treatment. Volume was represented by the aggregate experience level of the surgeon in a six-month window before each surgery. A positive volume-outcome relationship was found with some notable features. The relationship is stronger for cost and utilization outcomes than for adverse events; for thoracic surgeons as opposed to other surgeons; for VATS lobectomies rather than VATS wedge resections. While there was a reduction in cost and resource utilization with greater experience in VATS, these outcomes were not associated with greater experience in open procedures.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Attrition diagram. Thoracotomy: open versus VATS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Mahtabifard A, Fuller CB, McKenna RJ., Jr. Video-assisted thoracic surgery sleeve lobectomy: a case series. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2008;85(2):S729–S732. - PubMed
    1. Jones RO, Casali G, Walker WS. Does failed video-assisted lobectomy for lung cancer prejudice immediate and long-term outcomes? Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2008;86(1):235–239. - PubMed
    1. Luft HS, Hunt SS, Maerki SC. The volume-outcome relationship: practice-makes-perfect or selective-referral patterns? Health Services Research. 1987;22(2):157–182. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tu JV, Austin PC, Chan BTB. Relationship between annual volume of patients treated by admitting physician and mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2001;285(24):3116–3122. - PubMed
    1. Elixhauser A, Steiner C, Fraser I. Volume thresholds and hospital characteristics in the United States. Health Affairs. 2003;22(2):167–177. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources