Causes of high mortality in colorectal surgery: a review of episodes of care in Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Background: The episode of care for colorectal surgery in 8 outlier Veterans Affairs Hospitals with high mortality and the volume outcome relationship in 118 Hospitals are examined.

Methods: A total of 103 deaths were reviewed. Mean age was 74 with 63% of the patients undergoing emergency surgery; 54% of the patients had malignant disease and 21% had metastatic disease.