To determine whether surgeon or hospital volume effects in-hospital mortality or complications of radical nephrectomy with concomitant removal of inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus, we examine a national population-based cohort. Radical nephrectomy with removal of IVC thrombus is a complex urologic operation, which, similar to other major surgical procedures, may have an association between provider volume and outcomes.

Canadian Institute for Health Information administrative codes were used to identify nephrectomies associated with IVC manipulation in Canada from 1998 to 2007. Canadian Institute for Health Information databases yielded information on in-hospital mortality and complications for the hospital admission at surgery. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of surgeon and hospital volume on in-hospital mortality and complications, adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, year of surgery, and region.

During the study period, 816 radical nephrectomies with associated IVC thrombectomy were performed on 521 men and 295 women. The in-hospital mortality rate was 7%. Notably, 75% of deaths occurred in the first 2 cases of surgeon experience. Median length of stay was 10 days. Complications were noted in 633 patients (78%). Fifty-eight patients with concomitant cardiac bypass had increased in-hospital mortality and complications. Age, comorbidity, and cardiac bypass were the strongest predictors of in-hospital mortality. Increasing surgeon volume, but not hospital volume, was associated with lower in-hospital mortality on multivariate regression analysis; however, this was not statistically significant.

Radical nephrectomy with associated IVC thrombectomy has significant complications and mortality. Surgeon but not hospital volume may affect outcomes.