Between-hospital variation in rates of complications and decline of patient performance after glioblastoma surgery in the dutch Quality Registry Neuro Surgery

I. Kommers, L. Ackermans, H. Ardon, W.A. van den Brink, W. Bouwknegt, R.K. Balvers, N. van der Gaag, L. Bosscher, A. Kloet, J. Koopmans, M.T. Laan, R.N. Tewarie, P.A. Robe, O. van der Veer, M. Wagemakers, A.H. Zwinderman, P.D.C. Hamer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction For decisions on glioblastoma surgery, the risk of complications and decline in performance is decisive. In this study, we determine the rate of complications and performance decline after resections and biopsies in a national quality registry, their risk factors and the risk-standardized variation between institutions. Methods Data from all 3288 adults with first-time glioblastoma surgery at 13 hospitals were obtained from a prospective population-based Quality Registry Neuro Surgery in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2017. Patients were stratified by biopsies and resections. Complications were categorized as Clavien-Dindo grades II and higher. Performance decline was considered a deterioration of more than 10 Karnofsky points at 6 weeks. Risk factors were evaluated in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Patient-specific expected and observed complications and performance declines were summarized for institutions and analyzed in funnel plots. Results For 2271 resections, the overall complication rate was 20 % and 16 % declined in performance. For 1017 biopsies, the overall complication rate was 11 % and 30 % declined in performance. Patient-related characteristics were significant risk factors for complications and performance decline, i.e. higher age, lower baseline Karnofsky, higher ASA classification, and the surgical procedure. Hospital characteristics, i.e. case volume, university affiliation and biopsy percentage, were not. In three institutes the observed complication rate was significantly less than expected. In one institute significantly more performance declines were observed than expected, and in one institute significantly less. Conclusions Patient characteristics, but not case volume, were risk factors for complications and performance decline after glioblastoma surgery. After risk-standardization, hospitals varied in complications and performance declines.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)289-298
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Neuro-Oncology
Volume152
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • glioblastoma
  • karnofsky performance status
  • neurosurgical procedures
  • patient outcome assessment
  • postoperative complications
  • quality of health care
  • Patient outcome assessment
  • Quality of health care
  • Glioblastoma
  • Karnofsky performance status
  • Postoperative complications
  • Neurosurgical procedures

Cite this