BACKGROUND: Uniform and accurate reporting of surgical complications is the basis for quality control. We developed a computerized system for reporting and grading surgical complications in colorectal surgery. This study was conducted to evaluate this computerized reporting system. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all surgical complications in patients who underwent resection of the colon or rectum at our institution between the years 1999 and 2004 (n = 408). All complications were recorded using the computerized reporting system and compared with complications reported in the literature. RESULTS: Elective operations were performed in 75.7% of patients, and 24.3% required emergency operations. Of the 408 patients in the study, 239 (58.6%) had an uneventful recovery without complications. At least 1 complication was recorded in 169 (41.4%) patients. Grades 1 and 2 complications were recorded in 83 (20.3%) and 105 (25.7%) patients, respectively, requiring observation or medical treatment only, and 59 patients (14.5%) had grades 3 to 5 complications. The three leading complications were surgical site infection, intraabdominal abscess, and hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. The grades 3 to 5 complication rate was within the range described in the literature, and the rate of grades 1 and 2 complications was substantially higher. These grades 1 and 2 complications were associated with a substantially longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: This novel complication reporting system was found feasible and proved to have a higher sensitivity for recording minor but meaningful complications that tend to prolong hospital stay.
BACKGROUND: Uniform and accurate reporting of surgical complications is the basis for quality control. We developed a computerized system for reporting and grading surgical complications in colorectal surgery. This study was conducted to evaluate this computerized reporting system. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all surgical complications in patients who underwent resection of the colon or rectum at our institution between the years 1999 and 2004 (n = 408). All complications were recorded using the computerized reporting system and compared with complications reported in the literature. RESULTS: Elective operations were performed in 75.7% of patients, and 24.3% required emergency operations. Of the 408 patients in the study, 239 (58.6%) had an uneventful recovery without complications. At least 1 complication was recorded in 169 (41.4%) patients. Grades 1 and 2 complications were recorded in 83 (20.3%) and 105 (25.7%) patients, respectively, requiring observation or medical treatment only, and 59 patients (14.5%) had grades 3 to 5 complications. The three leading complications were surgical site infection, intraabdominal abscess, and hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. The grades 3 to 5 complication rate was within the range described in the literature, and the rate of grades 1 and 2 complications was substantially higher. These grades 1 and 2 complications were associated with a substantially longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: This novel complication reporting system was found feasible and proved to have a higher sensitivity for recording minor but meaningful complications that tend to prolong hospital stay.
Authors: Lukas E Brügger; Guido Beldi; Mario Beck; Francesca Porta; Hendrik Bracht; Daniel Candinas; Jukka Takala; Stephan M Jakob Journal: World J Surg Date: 2010-09 Impact factor: 3.352
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Authors: Jonathan B Yuval; Ido Mizrahi; Haggi Mazeh; Daniel J Weiss; Gidon Almogy; Miklosh Bala; Eran Kuchuk; Baha Siam; Natalia Simanovsky; Ahmed Eid; Alon J Pikarsky Journal: World J Surg Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Nikiforos Ballian; Barbara Zarebczan; Alejandro Munoz; Bruce Harms; Charles P Heise; Eugene F Foley; Gregory D Kennedy Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2009-09-02 Impact factor: 3.452