The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume 137, Issue 1 , Pages 10-12 , January 2009

Esophagectomy volume threshold as a criterion for centers of excellence: Causation or cause, strategy or strategem?

  • Thomas W. Rice, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for reprints: Thomas W. Rice, MD, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave/Desk F24, Cleveland, OH 44195.
    • ,
  • Eugene H. Blackstone, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Received 26 June 2008 ,Accepted 30 June 2008.

References 

  1. Leapfrog Group. http://www.leapfroggroup.org/media/file/Leapfrog-Evidence-Based_Hospital_Referral_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
  2. Blackstone EH. Thinking beyond the risk factors. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2006;29:645–652
  3. Meguid RA, Weiss ES, Chang DC, Brock MV, Yang SC. The effect of volume on esophageal cancer resections: what constitutes acceptable resection volumes for centers of excellence?. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009;137:23–29
  4. Rodgers M, Jobe BA, O'Rourke RW, Sheppard B, Diggs B, Hunter JG. Case volume as a predictor of inpatient mortality after esophagectomy. Arch Surg. 2007;142:829–839
  5. Osswald BR, Blackstone EH, Tochtermann U, Thomas G, Vahl CF, Hagl S. The meaning of early mortality after CABG. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1999;15:401–407
  6. Kouchoukos NT, Blackstone EH, Doty DB, Hanley FL, Karp RB. Kirklin/Barratt-Boyes cardiac surgery. 3rd ed.. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2003;p. 254-350

PII: S0022-5223(08)01173-2

doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.06.041

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume 137, Issue 1 , Pages 10-12 , January 2009

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