The Particulars: Previous research suggests that procedure volume is associated with operative morbidity and mortality after cystectomy. However, the effects of procedure volume on cancer-specific survival are not well defined.

Data Breakdown: An investigation of 2,738 cystectomy cases for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) found that the highest volume hospitals had lower 90-day mortality rates. Patients undergoing cystectomy at the lowest volume hospitals had lower 5-year survival rates. The authors noted that no effect of hospital volume on survival was observed after adjusting for individual surgeon volume.

Take Home Pearl: For patients with MIBC, greater cystectomy volume appears to be associated with improved survival, an effect that may be attributable to individual surgeon volume rather than hospital volume.

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