Esce A, et al. - Researchers examined 11,086 patients undergoing open repair of an intact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) between 2000 and 2008 using the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System inpatient database, to identify a minimum threshold for annual surgeon case volume in open AAA repair. Based on the maximization of the Contal and O'Quigley test statistic, the selected cutpoint was six or more cases per year. The high-volume group had significantly improved 30-day and 5-year survival rates as well as shorter lengths of stay in the hospital despite comparable rates of cardiovascular comorbidities.