Impact of surgeon volume on outcomes of rectal cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AimTo clarify the relationship between surgeon caseload and patient outcomes for patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in order to inform debate about organisation of services.MethodsWe searched Medline and Embase for articles published up to March 2010, and included studies examining surgeon caseload and outcomes in rectal cancer patients treated after 1990. Outcomes considered were 30-day mortality, overall survival, anastomotic leak, local recurrence, permanent stoma and abdominoperineal excision rates. We assessed the risk of bias in included