Influence of surgeon's volume on early outcome after total gastrectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine correlation between number of total gastrectomies done by each of 21 surgeons and the early outcome of these operations.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
University hospital, Japan.


METHODS
136 patients treated by total gastrectomy for gastric cancer during a 4-year period.


METHODS
Univariate and multivariate analyses of the effect of each surgeon's volume on the early outcome of total gastrectomy.


METHODS
Differences in the morbidity and mortality after total gastrectomy between high-volume and low-volume surgeons.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the incidence of major complications of total gastrectomy between high-volume (7/66, 11%) and low-volume (17/70, 24%) surgeons (p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Possible reasons for differences in outcome between high-volume and low-volume surgeons should be investigated in an attempt to define and describe the methods that are associated with the best outcome.
Fujita
Tetsujl
T
Department of Surgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yamazaki
Yoji
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery