Self-reported volume of radical prostatectomies among urologists in the USA.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the variability in the volume of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) performed by urologists in the USA, and the physician characteristics that predict RP volume, as previous studies showed that individual surgeon volume for RP is associated with clinical outcomes.


METHODS
In a nationwide, representative survey of 2000 urologists who treat prostate carcinoma in the USA, we asked respondents to indicate a numerical range of RPs they perform each year (none, 1-10, 11-30, and >30, the last which we defined as 'high volume'). We then identified characteristics of the provider and practice associated with a high volume of RPs. Supplementing survey results with other national data, we estimated the proportion of all RPs in the USA performed by 'high-volume' urologists.


RESULTS
The survey response rate was 66.1% (1313 urologists) with no differences between the respondents and non-respondents for the measured demographic variables. Among urologists who performed RPs (89.1% of the sample), 37.3% did < or = 10, 46.9% 11-30 and 15.8% >30 RPs/year. Academic and urological oncology fellowship-trained urologists were, respectively, 41% and 27% more likely than private-practice and non-fellowship-trained urologists to have a high volume of RPs. Of all RPs performed yearly in the USA, only an estimated 46.1% were by high-volume urologists.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant proportion of urologists report a RP volume that might be associated with higher rates of cardiac, respiratory, vascular, wound-healing, and genitourinary complications. Further study is needed to characterize the possible relationships between RP volume and tumour recurrence, survival, and long-term erectile dysfunction and incontinence.
Denberg
Thomas D
TD
General Internal Medicine, Denver Health Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. tom.denberg@uchsc.edu
Flanigan
Robert C
RC
Kim
Fernando J
FJ
Hoffman
Richard M
RM
Steiner
John F
JF
D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D014572:Urology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*