Surgeon case volume and 5 years survival rate for colorectal cancer

Many factors that influence patient outcome in colorectal surgery are not editable, and these are related either the tumor, the patient and the treatment. The surgeon- and hospital-related factors are independent predictors of outcome for colorectal cancer surgery and these are supervision, teaching/training, specialization in colorectal surgery, high caseload, high hospital caseload.

We evaluated the impact of the experience of 4 surgeons on the 5 years survival rate of patients with colon and rectal cancer and we valued if the surgeons' experience plays an equal role in both.

Four experienced surgeons operated 384 patients with colorectal cancer. Surgeon with the major experience and colorectal-dedicated presented a slightly better total 5 years survival rate, comparing to other surgeons, although he had a considerably better 5 years survival rate in rectal operations.

We concluded that surgeon- and hospital-related factors directly influence the surgeon learning curve and are therefore rightly considered predictors of outcome in colorectal cancer surgery. A low surgeon or hospital caseload may be compensated by intensified supervision or by improved training and teaching.

Colon cancer, Colectomy, Surgeon volume.