Institutional impact of multidisciplinary aortic team implementation on practice patterns and surgical productivity

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Multidisciplinary aortic teams (MAT) are essential for managing complex aortic diseases.
• This study evaluates the impact of MAT implementation on aortic case volume, practice patterns, and surgical productivity.
• The research was conducted at a single academic institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the effects of establishing a Multidisciplinary Aortic Team (MAT).
• To analyze changes in aortic case volumes and surgical productivity post-MAT implementation.
• To assess shifts in practice patterns, including interdisciplinary collaborations.

Main Methods:

• Aortic procedures were identified using CPT codes.
• Data were collected for three periods: pre-MAT (2018), first year post-MAT (2020), and two years post-MAT (2022).
• Full MAT included cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, cardiology, and genetics specialists.

Main Results:

• Total aortic case volume increased by over 300 cases.
• Significant increases were observed in ascending aortic replacements and thoracic endografting (P < .01).
• Overall procedural RVUs rose by 310%, from 6.8k in 2018 to 21.1k in 2022.

Conclusions:

• MAT implementation correlated with increased aortic case volumes and surgical productivity.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for managing complex aortic pathologies.
• MAT facilitates comprehensive treatment planning for patients with thoracoabdominal aortic conditions.