17 Feb Breast Cancer Surgery: Reoperations Less Frequent in High Volume Centers

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Art Sedrakyan

Dr. Art Sedrakyan MD PhD ScD
Professor of Healthcare Policy and Research in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Department of Public Health
Weill Cornell Medical College 

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Sedrakyan: In the most recent years available to us for research(2011-2013) one in four women underwent repeat surgery within 90 days after breast conserving approach to cancer removal. Patients operated by higher volume physicians had lower chance of undergoing repeat surgery.Uniform guidelines and increased surgical training are needed to standardize the breast conserving surgery to reduce the high rate of repeat surgery.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Sedrakyan: The risk is substantial and needs to be communicated properly with patients for informed decision making on breast conserving approach. Repeat surgery is both  stressful and potentially risky.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Sedrakyan: We should continue monitoring the risk of repeat surgery and better understand the techniques and technologies that can help us reduce the risk. 

Medical Research: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dr. Sedrakyan: The number of reoperations and costs are substantial  and substantially raise the costs of care. 

Citation:

JAMA

Dr. Art Sedrakyan MD PhD ScD (2016). Breast Cancer Surgery: Reoperations Less Frequent in High Volume Centers

Last Updated on February 17, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD