Refining the thoracic surgical oncology regionalization standards for esophageal surgery in Ontario, Canada: Moving from good to better.

BACKGROUND

The consolidation of surgical practices has been suggested to improve patient outcomes for complex surgeries. In 2005, Ontario Health-Cancer Care Ontario released the Thoracic Surgical Oncology Standards to facilitate the regionalization process at thoracic centers in Ontario, Canada. This work describes the quality-improvement process involved in updating the minimum surgical volume and supporting requirement recommendations for thoracic centers to further optimize patient care for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review to identify and synthesize evidence informing the volume-outcome relationship related to esophagectomy. The results of this review and esophageal cancer surgery common indicators (reoperation rate, unplanned visit rate, 30-day and 90-day mortality) from Ontario's Surgical Quality Indicator Report were presented and reviewed by a Thoracic Esophageal Standards Expert Panel and Surgical Oncology Program Leads at Ontario Health-Cancer Care Ontario. Hospital outliers were identified, and a subgroup analysis was conducted to determine the most appropriate minimum surgical volume threshold based on 30- and 90-day mortality rates data from the last 3 fiscal years.

RESULTS

Based on the finding that a significant decrease in mortality occurred at 12 to 15 esophagectomies per year, the Thoracic Esophageal Standards Expert Panel reached a consensus that thoracic centers should perform a minimum of 15 esophagectomies per year. The panel also recommended that any center performing esophagectomies have at least 3 thoracic surgeons to ensure continuity in clinical care.

CONCLUSIONS

We have described the process involved in updating the provincial minimum volume threshold and the appropriate support services for esophageal cancer surgery in Ontario.