Association of Very Low-Volume Practice With Vascular Surgery Outcomes in New York

In this study of low volume surgeons (defined as performing fewer than 1 index operation annually) the authors studied outcomes in New York state for open AAA repair (OAR) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA).   About 50% of surgeons performing these operations were low volume surgeons.  Low volume surgeons had higher rates of operative mortality for OAR (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.41 - 3.08) and of postoperative MI (OR 1.83; 1.03 - 3.26) and stroke (OR 1.78; 1.21 - 2.62) for CEA.  Health care resource utilization was higher for low volume surgeons for OAR and CEA.