Increased Caseload Volume is Associated With Better Oncologic Outcomes After Laparoscopic Resections for Colorectal Cancer.

To evaluate the impact of caseload volume on the outcomes of open and laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.Between April 1999 and January 2011, patients who underwent open or laparoscopic resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma with curative intent were identified. There were 2 groups of surgeons, whose primary practice is gastrointestinal surgery (n=5, group A) and general surgery (n=14, group B). Histopathologic and oncologic outcomes, as well as survival data were evaluated.A total of 815 patients fulfilled the study criteria and 356 (group A: 120, group B: 236) patients who had >2 years' follow-up data were included. Colorectal procedures constituted 33% and 19% of all the operations in A and B groups, respectively (P<0.0001). Among the colorectal cases, rates of laparoscopic surgery were 37% and 20% in the group A and B, respectively (P<0.0001). Practice pattern was independently associated with better overall survival and was favoring the group A (P=0.02).Increased caseload volume improves oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal resection for nonmetastatic cancer.