Hospital Volume of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair Does Not Affect Mortality in California. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiss, Anna; Anderson, Jamie A.; Green, Amanda; Chang, David C.; Kansal, Nikhil
• Is Part Of: Vascular & endovascular surgery. Volume 48:Number 5/6(2014)
• Page Start: 378
• Page End: 382
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: thoracoabdominal aneurysm -- volume outcomes relationship -- vascular surgery outcomes; Blood-vessels -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Blood-vessels -- Endoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Vascular Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Angioplasty -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive -- Periodicals; Vascular Diseases -- surgery -- Periodicals; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie endoscopique -- Périodiques; 617.41
• DOI: 10.1177/1538574414540344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-5744

Abstract

Objectives: Open thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair (TAAR) is a rarely performed but a complicated and morbid procedure. This study compares the morbidity and mortality of open TAAR at high- versus low-volume hospitals. Methods: Included patients from California Office of Statewide Health Policy and Development patient discharge database who underwent an open TAAR between 1995 and 2010. High volume was ≥9 cases per year. Outcomes included mortality and postoperative complications. Multivariate analyses compared patients at high- versus low-volume hospitals. Results: A total of 122 hospitals were included, with 5 designated as high volume. Adjusted analysis found no difference in the odds ratio (OR) of mortality or morbidity at high-volume hospitals compared to low-volume hospitals (OR 0.37, P = .077; OR 0.94, P = .834, respectively). However, there was a decreased OR of mortality in high- versus low-volume hospitals when a high-volume hospital was defined as each year after meeting the initial threshold of 9 cases (OR 0.40, P = .040). Conclusion: We found no difference in mortality between low- and high-volume institutions in California, until high-volume hospitals were defined as each year after meeting initial threshold case volume. This may suggest that the benefits of high-volume hospitals on outcomes are maintained after reaching the requisite case volume.