Impact of hospital and surgeon volumes on outcomes following pelvic reconstructive surgery in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of hospital and surgeon volumes on outcomes following urogynecologic surgery.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent urogynecologic procedures between 1998 and 2003 from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitals and surgeons were categorized as low, medium, or high volume based on average number of cases per year. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, complications, and nonroutine discharges. Multivariable analyses were performed using generalized estimation equations to estimate relative risks.


RESULTS
There were 310,759 women and 2986 hospitals. Women who had procedures at low-volume hospitals were 2.75 (95% CI 2.33-3.16) times more likely to die and 1.63 (95% CI 1.44-1.83) times more likely to have a nonroutine discharge, compared to those at high-volume hospitals. Women who had procedures by low-volume surgeons were also more likely to suffer complications and have nonroutine discharges compared to those with high-volume surgeons.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in hospital and surgeon volumes of urogynecologic procedures may contribute to variations in mortality and morbidity risks.
Sung
Vivian W
VW
Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA.
Rogers
Michelle L
ML
Myers
Deborah L
DL
Clark
Melissa A
MA
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000601:surgery*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality