Mortality from high-risk surgical procedures has declined by at least 8 percent for most procedures over the last 10 years, according to a study published in the June 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the study, the decline can be partly explained by the growth in volume for certain procedures at high-volume centers. The authors explained that minimum volume standards for several surgical procedures were established in 2000 by the Leapfrog Group because of data that showed an inverse correlation between surgical mortality and the volume of procedures at an institution.
The study examined data from 3.2 million Medicare patients undergoing one of eight different cancer of cardiovascular operations from 1999-2008. The researchers looked at trends in market concentration and hospital volume and their relation to mortality rates. They found that death rates had declined for all eight procedures, and higher hospital volumes explained much of the decline for deaths from pancreatomy, cystectomy and esophagectomy.
According to the study, mortality has decreased as hundreds of low-volume hospitals have stopped performing high-risk surgeries. Instead, patients undergo surgery at safer, higher-volume hospitals where high-risk surgeries are performed more regularly.
Read the study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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According to the study, the decline can be partly explained by the growth in volume for certain procedures at high-volume centers. The authors explained that minimum volume standards for several surgical procedures were established in 2000 by the Leapfrog Group because of data that showed an inverse correlation between surgical mortality and the volume of procedures at an institution.
The study examined data from 3.2 million Medicare patients undergoing one of eight different cancer of cardiovascular operations from 1999-2008. The researchers looked at trends in market concentration and hospital volume and their relation to mortality rates. They found that death rates had declined for all eight procedures, and higher hospital volumes explained much of the decline for deaths from pancreatomy, cystectomy and esophagectomy.
According to the study, mortality has decreased as hundreds of low-volume hospitals have stopped performing high-risk surgeries. Instead, patients undergo surgery at safer, higher-volume hospitals where high-risk surgeries are performed more regularly.
Read the study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Related Articles on Hospital Quality:
Oregon Commission Shows Little Improvement in Patient Safety Among Hospitals
Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Outlines Shortcomings in Radiology Services
Alaska's Providence Hospital Plagued With MRSA; 14 Babies Infected Since March