Abstract

There exist few data on the quality of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the community setting. We characterized EUS performance at the individual facility level in 3 large American states, using need for repeat biopsy (NRB) as a metric for procedural failure, and rate of unplanned hospital encounter (UHE) as a metric for adverse event.We collected data on 76,614 EUS procedures performed at 166 facilities in California, Florida, and New York (2009-2014). The endpoints for the study were 7-day rate of UHE after EUS, and 30-day rate of NRB after EUS with fine-needle aspiration. Facility-level factors analyzed included annual procedure volume, urban/rural location, and free-standing status (facilities not attached to a larger hospital). Predictors for UHE and NRB were analyzed in both multivariable regression and nonparametric local regression.Facility volume did not predict risk for UHE. However, high facility volume protected against NRB (p-trend <0.001) even after adjustment for other facility-level factors. When regressing facility volume against risk for NRB in local regression, a join-point (inflection point) was identified at 97 procedures per annum. Once facilities reached this threshold volume, there appeared little additional protective effect of higher volume. Rural facility location (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.36-2.40) and free-standing status (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.16-2.13) also associated with NRB.Facility volume does not predict risk for adverse events after EUS. However, high facility volume is associated with decreased rates of technical failure (as assessed by NRB). These data provide one of the first descriptions of EUS practice in community settings and highlight opportunities to improve endoscopic quality nationally.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.gie.2020.12.055

View details for PubMedID 33476611