Impact of hospital volume in liver surgery on postoperative mortality and morbidity: nationwide study

Background: This nationwide retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate impact of hospital volume and influence of liver transplantation activity on postoperative mortality and failure to rescue after liver surgery.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent liver resection between 2011 and 2019 using a nationwide database. A threshold of surgical activities from which in-hospital mortality declines was calculated. Hospitals were divided into high- and low-volume centres. Main outcomes were in-hospital mortality and failure to rescue.

Results: Among 39 286 patients included, the in-hospital mortality rate was 2.8 per cent. The activity volume threshold from which in-hospital mortality declined was 25 hepatectomies. High-volume centres (more than 25 resections per year) had more postoperative complications but a lower rate of in-hospital mortality (2.6 versus 3 per cent; P < 0.001) and failure to rescue (5 versus 6.3 per cent; P < 0.001), in particular related to specific complications (liver failure, biliary complications, vascular complications) (5.5 versus 7.6 per cent; P < 0.001). Liver transplantation activity did not have an impact on these outcomes.

Conclusion: From more than 25 liver resections per year, rates of in-hospital mortality and failure to rescue declined. Management of specific postoperative complications appeared to be better in high-volume centres.