Patient Outcomes for Colorectal Surgery

At Massachusetts General Hospital, we believe it's important to provide safe and effective care. The Department of Surgery tracks many performance measures and compares them to national data including:

• Colectomy Case Volumes
• Proctectomy Case Volumes
• Patient Ratings of Colorectal Surgeons
• Colorectal Length of Stay
• Colectomy Outcomes
• Proctectomy Outcomes
• Colorectal Outcomes

Colectomy Case Volumes

Higher volumes mean more experience. Mass General performs a large number of colectomies per year.

Hospitals that perform higher numbers of colectomy procedures have better outcomes. Mass General performs a high number of colectomy procedures when compared to the national average of hospitals performing the procedure.

The following chart shows the 2020 Colectomy Case Volumes. January - December 2019, 544 is the Mass General Rate, 131 is the National Rate.

Source: Mass General and Viziant, formerly University HealthSystem Consortium
Data period: January - December 2019

Proctectomy Case Volumes

Higher volumes mean more experience. Mass General's proctectomy case volumes greatly exceeded the recommended minimum standard of 20 cases per year.

Hospitals that perform higher numbers of proctectomy procedures have better outcomes. Mass General performs a large number of proctectomy procedures when compared to the national average of hospitals performing the procedure.

The following chart shows the 2020 Proctectomy Case Volumes. January - December 2017, 62 is the Mass General Rate, 20 is the National Rate.

Source: Mass General and Viziant, formerly University HealthSystem Consortium
Data period: January - December 2019

Patient Ratings of Colorectal Surgeons

Higher percentages are better. Patients give very high ratings to Mass General colorectal surgeons.

Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys ask patients to report on and evaluate their experiences with health care. In recent ratings, our surgeons have rated higher than national average, compared to national patient ratings of all doctors.

The following chart shows the 2020 Patient Ratings of Colorectal Surgeons. January - December 2019, 82% would rate Mass General doctors with a top score, with 80% as the National Rate. 85% would definitely recommend Mass General doctors, with 76% as the National Rate.

Source: Quality Data Management (QDM) CAHPS Clinician and Groups Patient Survey
Data period: January - December 2019

Colorectal Length of Stay

Lower percentages are better. Mass General's outcomes are as expected, given the high number of very ill and extremely complex patients we serve, as compared to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) norms.

Shorter stays at Mass General result from more efficient care and fewer complications. When compared to national norms, there are fewer patients with hospital stays greater than seven days at Mass General.

The following chart shows the 2020 Colorectal Length of Stay. July 2018 - June 2019, 12.7% of Mass General patients stay at the hospital for greater than 7 days following colectomy, 21.7 is the National Rate.18.8% of Mass General patients stay at the hospital for greater than 7 days following protectomy, 20.3 is the National Rate.The star symbol indicates performance is statistically better than the benchmark.

Source: ACS-NSQIP Database
Data period: July 2018 - June 2019

Colectomy Outcomes

Lower percentages are better. Mass General's colectomy outcomes are as expected, given the high number of very ill and extremely complex patients we serve, compared to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) norms.

At Mass General, patient safety is a priority. Our rates of complications from the colectomy procedure are relatively low.

The following chart shows the 2020 Colectomy Outcomes. July 2018 - June 2019, 2.1% is the Mass General mortality rate, 2.9% is the National Rate. 11.6% is the Mass General any complication rate, 15.0% is the National Rate. 1.6% is the Mass General vent less than 48 hours rate, 2.6% is the National Rate. 6.5% is the Mass General surgical infection rate, 7.3% is the National Rate. 2.5% is the Mass General sepsis rate, 3.1% is the National Rate. 3.1% is the Mass General unplanned return to the operating room rate, 4.8% is the National Rate. 9.5% is the Mass General readmission rate, 9.7% is the National Rate. 2.5% is the Mass General anastomic leak rate, 2.9% is the National Rate. 13.5% is the Mass General prolonged NPQ/NGT use rate, 16.5% is the National Rate

Source: ACS-NSQIP Database
Mortality [death] includes: Discharge and 30-day mortality
Data period: July 2018 - June 2019
*Anastomotic Leak: A breakdown where the intestine is surgically reconnected, which causes fluids to leak
**Prolonged NPQ/NGT Use: A prolonged period of time until a patient can resume normal diet

Proctectomy Outcomes

Lower percentages are better. Our proctectomy outcomes are as expected, given the high number of very ill and extremely complex patients we serve, to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) norms.

At Mass General, patient safety is a priority. Our rates of complications from the proctectomy procedure are relatively low.

The following chart shows the 2020 Protectomy Outcomes. July 2018 - June 2019, 0.0% is the Mass General mortality rate, 0.9% is the National Rate.14.1% is the Mass General surgical infection rate, 13.8% is the National Rate.4.7% is the Mass General sepsis rate, 8.0% is the National Rate. 18.8% is the Mass General readmission rate, 15.5% is the National Rate. 0.0% is the Mass General vent less than 48 hours rate, 1.0% is the National Rate.

Source: ACS-NSQIP Database
Mortality [death] includes: Discharge and 30-day mortality
Data period: July 2018 - June 2019

Colorectal Outcomes

Lower percentages are better. Mass General's colorectal outcomes are as expected, given the high number of very ill and extremely complex patients we serve, to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) norms.

At Mass General, patient safety is a priority. Our rates of complications from the colectomy procedure are relatively low.

The following chart shows the 2020 Colorectal Outcomes. July 2018 - June 2019, 1.9% is the Mass General mortality rate, 2.9% is the National Rate. 12.1% is the Mass General any complication rate, 15.6% is the National Rate. 1.4% is the Mass General vent less than 48 hours rate, 2.4% is the National Rate. 7.4% is the Mass General surgical infection rate, 7.9% is the National Rate. 2.8% is the Mass General sepsis rate, 3.1% is the National Rate. 3.3% is the Mass General unplanned return to the operating room rate, 5.0% is the National Rate. 10.5% is the Mass General readmission rate, 10.2% is the National Rate.

Source: ACS-NSQIP Database
Mortality [death] includes: Discharge and 30-day mortality
Data period: July 2018 - June 2019