EAU 2011 - A systematic review and meta-analysis of the volume-outcome relationship for the radical cystectomy: An update for the ongoing debate - Session Highlights

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (UroToday.com) - Surgical volume remains a parameter of debate – not only from the medical point of view.

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.


 

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the UroToday.com Contributing Medical Editor and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the European Association of Urology (EAU)




 



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