Is there a "July effect" for head and neck cancer surgery?

A "July effect" of increased complications when new trainees begin residency has been reported widely by the media. We sought to determine the effect of admission month on in-hospital mortality, complications, length of hospitalization, and costs for patients undergoing head and neck cancer (HNCA) surgery.

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 48,263 patients who underwent an ablative procedure for a malignant oral cavity, laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, or oropharyngeal neoplasm in 2005 to 2008 were analyzed using cross-tabulations and multivariate regression modeling.

There were 3,812 cases admitted in July (8%). July admission was significantly associated with Medicaid (RRR 1.40, P = 0.011) or self-pay payor status (RRR 1.40, P = 0.022), medium hospital bed size (RRR 1.63, P = 0.033) and large hospital bed size (RRR 1.73, P = 0.013). There was no association between July admission and other patient or hospital demographic characteristics. Major procedures and comorbidity were significantly associated with in-hospital death, surgical and medical complications, length of hospitalization, and costs, but no association was found for July admission, July through September discharge, or teaching hospital status and short-term morbidity or mortality. Teaching hospitals and large hospital bed size were predictors of increased length of hospitalization and costs; and private, for profit hospitals were additionally associated with increased costs. No interaction between July admission and teaching hospitals was found for any of the outcome variables studied.

These data do not support evidence of a "July effect" or an increase in morbidity or mortality at teaching hospitals providing HNCA surgical care.