Meta-analysis and systematic review of the relationship between volume and outcome in abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

Authors: Holt, P. J. E.; Poloniecki, J. D.; Gerrard, D.; Loftus, I. M.; Thompson, M. M.

Source: British Journal of Surgery, Volume 94, Number 4, April 2007 , pp. 395-403(9)

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract:

Background:

This study investigated the volume-outcome relationship for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery and quantified critical volume thresholds.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library were searched for articles on the operation volume-outcome relationship in elective and ruptured AAA surgery. UK Hospital Episode Statistics data were also considered. Elective and ruptured AAA repairs were dealt with separately. The data were meta-analysed, and the odds ratios (95 per cent confidence interval) for mortality at higher- and lower-volume hospitals were compared. Volume thresholds were identified from each paper.

Results:

The analysis included 421 299 elective and 45 796 ruptured AAA operations. Significant relationships between mortality and annual volume were noted for both groups. Overall, the weighted odds ratio was 0·66 (0·65 to 0·67) for elective repair at a threshold of 43 AAAs per annum and 0·78 (0·73 to 0·82) for ruptured aneurysm repair at a threshold of 15 AAAs per annum, both in favour of high-volume institutions.

Conclusion:

Higher annual operation volumes are associated with significantly lower mortality in both elective and ruptured AAA repair. This suggests that AAA surgery should be performed only at higher-volume centres. Copyright © 2007 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Document Type: Miscellaneous

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bjs.5710

Publication date: 2007-04-01

More about this publication?

• As of January 2010, this journal will no longer be available on IngentaConnect, please visit Wiley InterScience to arrange continued access to this content
• Access this journal at Wiley InterScience
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Surgery
• By this author: Holt, P. J. E. ;  Poloniecki, J. D. ;  Gerrard, D. ;  Loftus, I. M. ;  Thompson, M. M.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers