Pediatric endocrine surgery: who is operating on our children?

摘要

BACKGROUND: High surgeon volume is associated with improved outcomes in adult endocrine surgery. This is the first population-based outcomes study for thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy in children. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were performed using 1999 to 2005 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample data. Outcomes included complications, length of stay (LOS), and costs. High-volume surgeons performed >30 cervical endocrine procedures per year in adults and children; pediatric surgeons restricted >90% of their practices to patients