title: Hepatic resection in Canada: rates and geographic variation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver resection (LR) is the only curative therapy for hepatic malignancy. Despite this, the rates of LR across Canada are unknown. We sought to determine the rate and regional variation of LR in Canada, its provinces and census divisions for the period 1995-2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained discharge data for 1995-2004 from all provinces but Quebec from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and we searched for LR by residential site. Then we calculated rates and variations in rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The national age- and sex-adjusted rate of LR per 100,000 people aged 18 years and older increased from 3.22 in 1995 to 5.86 in 2004. There was a high degree of variation across provinces and census divisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver resection volumes are increasing in Canada. Significant regional variation exists for LR in Canada, likely reflecting a variety of important supply-demand issues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta..
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: Balpreet
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Ghali
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*