Influence of Hospital Volume on Mortality and Short-term Postoperative Outcomes in Uncomplex General Surgery in Switzerland

Influence of Hospital Volume on Mortality and Short-term Postoperative Outcomes in Uncomplex General Surgery in Switzerland: A Retrospective National Registry Study

The effect of centralisation measures on the operative outcomes after any type of surgery in Switzerland has not been highlighted yet. This study aims to investigate the influence of the annual case-specific hospital volume on uncomplex general surgery. The four operations investigated are appendectomy, cholecystectomy, umbilical hernia repair, and inguinal/femoral hernia repair.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients with appendicectomy for appendicitis, cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis and/or cholecystitis , umbilical hernia repair, or inguinal and/or femoral hernia repair

Exclusion Criteria:

• incomplete case documentation
• age under 20 years
• other hospitals than general or surgical hospitals
• no index operation