Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2010-10
Centralization Harnessing Volume-Outcome Relationships in Vascular Surgery and Aortic Aneurysm Care Should Not Focus Solely on Threshold Operative Caseload
There has been great interest in the setting of threshold operative volumes for safety to guide centralisation of vascular surgical services by healthcare commissioners. This editorial examines the evidence for designing services around a numeric safety threshold in the relationship between volume and outcome in vascular surgery. Thresholds should be aimed at the best outcomes and equity of care. Equity means access to the most up-to-date technology and all the relevant support services for elective and emergency cases. The relationship of volume and outcome with quality is complex, and demands a shift in focus to infrastructural and procedural improvements that drive high-quality services rather than the concentration of planning exclusively around an operative volume threshold.
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