Impact of surgical specialization on emergency colorectal surgery outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of surgeon specialization on emergency colorectal resection in terms of mortality, morbidity, and type of operation performed.


METHODS
Observational study from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 2006.


METHODS
Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.


METHODS
A total of 1046 patients underwent emergency colorectal resection. Patients were classified into 2 groups: those operated on by a colorectal surgeon (CS) and those operated on by a general surgeon (GS).


METHODS
Preoperative variables studied were sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, associated medical disease, presentation, reason for surgery, and type of operation. Univariate relations between predictors and outcomes were estimated, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic effect of the combination of the variables.


RESULTS
Patients in the CS group underwent a significantly higher percentage of resection and primary anastomosis. The postoperative morbidity rate was 52.2% in the CS group and 60.5% in the GS group (P = .01). The anastomotic dehiscence rate was lower in the CS group (6.2%) than in the GS group (12.1%) (P = .01). Postoperative mortality decreased among patients in the CS group (17.9%) with respect to the patients in the GS group (28.3%) (P < .001). Being operated on by a CS was predictive in both the univariate and multivariate analyses for postoperative complications and mortality, and it was the only variable with predictive value for anastomotic dehiscence.


CONCLUSIONS
Specialization in colorectal surgery has a significant influence on morbidity, mortality, and anastomotic dehiscence after emergency operations.
Biondo
Sebastiano
S
Department of Surgery, Bellvitge University Hospital, University of Barcelona, Spain. sebastianobiondo@yahoo.com
Kreisler
Esther
E
Millan
Monica
M
Fraccalvieri
Domenico
D
Golda
Thomas
T
Frago
Ricardo
R
Miguel
Bernat
B
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003106:Colon; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome