Comparing clinical outcomes in high-volume and low-volume off-pump coronary bypass operation programs.
sites and then analyzed the patient and hospital characteristics that had an impact on clinical outcomes.


RESULTS
The mortality rates for the high- and low-volume OPCAB facilities both averaged 2.9% (p = NS). Patients at the high-volume OPCAB facilities had significantly lower rates of major complications (shock/hemorrhage, neurologic, renal, and cardiac) than those at the low-volume OPCAB facilities. Of the seven minor complications, rates for six were lower in the high-volume OPCAB facilities, but none of the differences reached statistical significance. High-volume OPCAB sites were significantly more likely to discharge their patients directly home than were low-volume OPCAB sites (80% versus 66%; p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that surgical team experience and choice of approaches to performing CABG had an impact on patient outcomes.
Brown
P P
PP
HCA-The Healthcare Company, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Mack
M J
MJ
Simon
A W
AW
Battaglia
S L
SL
Tarkington
L G
LG
Culler
S D
SD
Becker
E R
ER
D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002983:Clinical Competence; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome