Racial Disparities in Outcomes of Women Undergoing Myomectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of racial and socioeconomic factors with outcomes of abdominal myomectomies. METHODS: All women undergoing abdominal myomectomy in California from 2005 to 2012 were identified from the OSHPD (Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) using appropriate International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Demographics, comorbidities, surgical approaches, and complications occurring within 30 days of the procedure were identified. Multivariate associations were assessed with mixed effects logistic regression models. RESULTS: The cohort of 35,151 women was racially and ethnically diverse (White, 38.8%; Black, 19.9%; Hispanic, 20.3%; and Asian, 15.3%). Among all procedures, 33,906 were performed through an open abdominal approach, and 1,245 were performed using a minimally invasive approach. Proportionally, Black patients were more likely than White patients to have open procedures, and open approaches were associated with higher complication rates. Overall, 2,622 (7.5%) women suffered at least one complication. Although severe complications did not vary by race or ethnicity, Black (9.0%), Hispanic (7.9%), and Asian (7.5%) patients were more likely to suffer complications of any severity compared with White patients (6.7%, P<.001). As compared with patients with private insurance (6.4%), those with indigent payer status (Medicaid [12.1%] and self-pay [11.1%]) had higher complication rates (P<.001). Controlling for all factors, Black and Asian patients were more likely to suffer complications compared with White patients. CONCLUSION: The overall complication rate after abdominal myomectomy was 7.5%. Comorbidities, an open approach, and indigent payer status were associated with increased complication risk. Controlling for all factors, Black and Asian patients still had increased risks of complications.

The effect of surgeon volume on outcomes and resource use for vaginal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of surgical volume on outcomes and resource use in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: Women who underwent total vaginal hysterectomy and were registered in the Perspective database were examined. Perspective is a nationwide database developed to measure quality and resource use. Procedure-associated intraoperative, perioperative, and postoperative medical complications as well as hospital readmission, length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) use, operating time, and cost were analyzed. Based on the overall gynecologic surgical volume and vaginal surgical volume of their surgeons, patients were stratified into tertiles. Complications were compared using adjusted generalized estimating equations and reported as odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: A total of 77,109 patients operated on by 6,195 gynecologic surgeons were identified. After adjustment for the effects of other demographic variables and concomitant procedures, patients operated on by high-volume vaginal surgeons were 31% (OR 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.80) less likely to experience an operative injury, whereas perioperative complications were reduced by 19% (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.72-0.92), medical complications decreased by 24% (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.67-0.86), ICU admission reduced by 46% (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.43-0.73), and the transfusion rate decreased by 28% (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.61-0.85) in patients treated by high-volume vaginal surgeons, whereas rates of readmission were higher (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.04-1.47) in patients treated by high-volume surgeons. Operative times were lower in patients operated on by high-volume surgeons (P<.001). Although total gynecologic surgical volume had no effect on cost, patients treated by high-volume vaginal surgeons had lower costs (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Perioperative morbidity and resource use are lower in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy when the procedure is performed by high-volume vaginal surgeons.