Abstract
Background: National efforts are underway to monitor the quality of patient care at Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals. The objective of this study was to examine treatment utilization and outcomes for localized pancreatic cancer at VA compared with non-VA hospitals. Methods: Using the National Cancer Data Base, patients with pretreatment clinical stage I/II pancreatic adenocarcinoma were identified. Treatment utilization and outcomes were assessed at VA compared with academic and community hospitals. Results: Of 35,009 patients, 2% were seen at VA, 38% at academic, and 54% at community hospitals. VA hospitals were more likely to use surgery (odds ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.73-2.79) and to administer adjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio 1.77, confidence interval 1.28-2.46) compared with community hospitals. Adjusted perioperative mortality and 3-year survival rates after surgery were similar at VA and academic hospitals. Conclusions: For localized pancreatic cancer, patients treated at VA hospitals receive stage-specific treatments and have risk-adjusted perioperative and long-term survival rates that are comparable with those for patients treated at academic centers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 588-593 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | American journal of surgery |
| Volume | 194 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2007 |
Funding
K.Y.B. was supported by the American College of Surgeons Clinical Scholars in Residence program and a research grant from the Department of Surgery, Northwestern University.
Keywords
- National Cancer Data Base
- Pancreatectomy
- Pancreatic neoplasms
- Surgery
- Veterans Administration Medical Center
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
