Hospital volume and the case for centralisation of surgical services

The importance of hospital volume on the impact of surgery in patients with lung cancer has been observed in several studies. Higher volumes appear to be protective with suggested benefits including the higher use of surgical resection, higher rates of surgery in older patients, improved surgical technique, shorter hospital length of stay, lower readmission rates, fewer perioperative complications and improved survival (1 –6). Hence, the assessment of the impact of hospital volume on cancer outcomes is of key importance.
Source: Lung Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research