A multicentre, benchmarking study of rectal cancer management in provincial New Zealand hospitals.

Aim: The quality of rectal cancer management within New Zealand provincial hospitals is largely unknown. This study was conducted to appraise and benchmark the management of rectal cancer in provincial New Zealand centres as compared to specialist tertiary centres.

Method: Retrospective data was collected for all patients who underwent elective rectal cancer resection in six provincial New Zealand hospitals from January 2012 to December 2013. This was then compared with data from two tertiary hospitals over the same time period. The complete management pathway was evaluated.

Results: A total of 124 provincial and 145 tertiary rectal cancer resections were analysed. Completeness of preoperative staging was comparable between provincial and tertiary centres, as was type of surgical procedure performed and rates of clear surgical margins. A statistically significant difference was observed in mean number of lymph nodes analysed (10.3 v 17.2), reporting of mesorectal grade (61% v 77%), and completion colonoscopy rates (91% v 99%), all of which were lower in provincial hospitals. Multidisciplinary team discussion, rates of neoadjuvant therapy and post-operative parameters such as 30-day mortality (0.8% v 1.4%), length of stay (11.9 v 12.4 days), anastomotic leak (7% v 5%) and return to theatre (8% v 8%), were similar.

Conclusion: Management of rectal cancer in provincial hospitals is comparable to specialist centres, however lymph node harvest, reporting of mesorectal grade and complete colonoscopy were factors identified which were lower in the provincial group. Provincial rectal cancer management remains an important resource for patients living outside major centres.