This group of authors from the Netherlands analyzed 10 trials on volume-outcome for patients undergoing radical cystectomy. In the meta-analysis on the endpoint hospital mortality 7 trials were included and demonstrated an odds ratio of 0.55 (0.44-0.69) in favor of higher volume. The results were moderately heterogeneous and not suggestive for publication bias. It was concluded that volume alone could not identify underperforming high volume centers. Therefore, the Dutch Association of Urology implemented a national Quality of Care registration program for all patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer in 2010. A minimum of 10 cases per year is required to participate.
If surgical volume is a relevant parameter (and I believe so) it should be even more relevant in complex operative procedures such as radical cystectomy.
Presented by Catharina A. Goossens-Laan, et al. at the 26th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress - March 18 - 21, 2011 - Austria Centre Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Reported for UroToday by Christian Doehn, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, University of Lübeck Medical School, Lübeck Germany.
View EAU 2011 Annual Meeting Coverage
