Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Effect of cancer surgery complexity on short-term outcomes, risk predictions, and hospital comparisons.

Merkow RP, Bentrem DJ, Cohen ME, Paruch JL, Weber SM, Ko CY, Bilimoria KY. Effect of cancer surgery complexity on short-term outcomes, risk predictions, and hospital comparisons. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2013 Oct 1; 217(4):685-93.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Concern exists that oncologic surgical complexity is not adequately captured by the primary procedure code alone. Our objectives were to characterize the association between secondary procedures and 30-day outcomes, evaluate the effect of surgical complexity on risk predictions, and assess the influence of surgical complexity on hospital-quality comparisons. STUDY DESIGN: Patients who underwent colon, rectal, or pancreatic resection for cancer (2007-2011) were identified from the American College of Surgeons NSQIP. Complexity was assessed by creating categorical complexity variables using secondary procedure codes and using total work relative value units. Regression methods were used to evaluate surgical complexity and hospital-quality comparisons. RESULTS: Patients had at least one secondary procedure documented in 48.0% of colon, 55.5% of rectal, and 63.1% of pancreatic cases. Surgical complexity variables were associated with worse outcomes across nearly all complications assessed. For example, serious morbidity was increased after an index colon resection with a synchronous liver resection (odds ratio = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.10-1.76) and a pancreatic resection with vascular reconstruction (odds ratio = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01-1.45). Based on discrimination improvement indices and the likelihood ratio test, model-based predictions were enhanced with the addition of secondary surgical complexity variables, as well as total work relative value units, for nearly all procedures and outcomes assessed. Models that included total work relative value units had similar or marginally better discrimination compared with models with secondary procedure categories. Hospital performance did not change substantially after complexity adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical complexity adjustment is feasible and improves risk estimation of 30-day postoperative outcomes for colon, rectal, and pancreatic resections for cancer. Oncology-specific risk-adjustment models should include complexity adjustment using secondary procedure codes.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.