Impact of Surgeon and Hospital Volume on Morality, Length of Stay, and Cost of Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Open Access
- Author:
- Enomoto, Laura M
- Graduate Program:
- Public Health Sciences
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- March 06, 2014
- Committee Members:
- Christopher Hollenbeak, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Niraj J Gusani, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Douglas L Leslie, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- Volume
Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Mortality
Length of Stay
Cost - Abstract:
- Improved mortality rates following pancreaticoduodenectomy by high volume surgeons and hospitals have been well documented, but less is known about the impact of such volumes on length of stay and cost. This study uses data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to examine the effect of surgeon and hospital volume on mortality, length of stay, and cost following pancreaticoduodenectomy while controlling for patient specific factors. Data included 3,137 pancreaticoduodenectomies from the NIS performed between 2004-2008. Using logistic and generalized linear regression models, the relationship between surgeon volume, hospital volume, and post-operative mortality, length of stay, and cost was estimated while accounting for patient factors. Propensity score matching was used to address potential covariate imbalance. After controlling for patient characteristics, patients of high volume surgeons at high volume hospitals had a significantly lower risk of mortality compared to any other group (2.7% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.016). Patients of high volume surgeons at high volume hospitals also had a five day shorter length of stay (p < 0.001), as well as significantly lower costs ($12,159, p < 0.001). The results of this study, which simultaneously accounted for surgeon volume, hospital volume, and potential confounding patient characteristics, suggest that both surgeon and hospital volume have a significant effect on outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy, affecting not only mortality rates but also lengths of stay and costs.