OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a simple working procedure for recording postoperative complications. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 218 of 312 patients who were operated on from March to July 1996. INTERVENTIONS: Follow up 30 days after operation by looking up the local register of complications, review of medical records and by structured telephone interview with the patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity. RESULTS: All the patients were recorded in the local register, showing a complication rate of 21% (n = 49). However the medical record and the telephone interview showed complication rates of 68 (31%) and 76 (33%), respectively. CONCLUSION: It is possible to improve the quantity of the recording by a simplified working procedure, while the quality is still a challenge.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a simple working procedure for recording postoperative complications. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 218 of 312 patients who were operated on from March to July 1996. INTERVENTIONS: Follow up 30 days after operation by looking up the local register of complications, review of medical records and by structured telephone interview with the patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity. RESULTS: All the patients were recorded in the local register, showing a complication rate of 21% (n = 49). However the medical record and the telephone interview showed complication rates of 68 (31%) and 76 (33%), respectively. CONCLUSION: It is possible to improve the quantity of the recording by a simplified working procedure, while the quality is still a challenge.