To Örebro University

Introduction: Intestinal resection for CD is often complex and remains associated with significant postoperative morbidity. In several other types of complex surgery, increased case volume has been associated with better outcomes. In surgery for CD, such an association has been difficult to assess.

Method: In this nationwide cohort study, we used the National Patient Register to identify all CD patients who underwent their first (primary) ileocecal resection in Sweden 2000-2019 at age 15 years or above. Hospitals were grouped into low, middle, and high-volume centres (1-24, 25-36 and ≥37 resections per year).

Result: In the 20-year study period, 3396 patients underwent primary ileocecal resection for CD in Sweden; 2371 (69.8%), 527 (15.5%), and 498 (14.7%) in low-, middle-, and high-volume hospitals, respectively. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 351 (15%), 126 (24%), and 122 (24%) patients in low-, middle-, and high-volume centers. Surgical reintervention within 100 days was performed in 117 (4.9%), 19 (3.6%) and 13 (2.6%) patients in the three groups (adjusted odds ratios 0.72 (95% confidence interval 0.43-1.15) for middle-volume and 0.52 (0.28-0.89) for high-volume hospitals, compared to low-volume hospitals, Figure 1). There were no differences in the length of index admission hospitalstay or mortality.

Discussion: In primary ileocecal resection for Crohn’s disease (CD), high-volume hospitals had lower odds of early surgical reintervention ,compared to low-volume hospitals. Hospital groups did not differ in mortality or length of stay. This finding may inform discussions of subspecialization and centralization in surgery for Crohn’s disease.