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. 2016 Sep;31(9):1603-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00384-016-2619-1. Epub 2016 Jul 6.

The effect of a postoperative quality improvement program on outcomes in colorectal surgery in a community hospital

C C M Marres  1 , A W H van de Ven  2   3 , P C M Verbeek  2 , S van Dieren  3 , W A Bemelman  3 , C J Buskens  3
Affiliations

The effect of a postoperative quality improvement program on outcomes in colorectal surgery in a community hospital

C C M Marres et al. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether implementation of a comprehensive quality improvement program was associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing oncological colorectal surgery in a non-academic, non-referral community hospital.

Methods: The quality improvement program (QIP) was introduced in January 2011 and consisted of the following interventions: (1) avoidance of postoperative nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs; (2) normovolemia was pursued pre- and postoperatively; (3) non-resectional surgery if possible, in patients over 80 with ASA 3 or 4 classification; and (4) a standardized, postoperative surveillance protocol was introduced, with CRP determination day 2 and 4, and if necessary subsequent abdominal CT with rectal contrast to reduce delay in diagnosis of complications. From a prospectively maintained database of 488 patients undergoing colorectal surgery between 2009 and 2014, postoperative outcomes of patients operated before and after implementation of the program were compared.

Results: The severe complication rate (Clavien-Dindo >3b) decreased significantly (25.0 vs. 13.7 %; p < .001) after implementation of the QIP program. The mortality rate dropped from 8.7 to 2.6 % (p = .003). The percentage of anastomotic leakage was 9.6% before QIP implementation and 4.2% after (p = .013). Median length of hospital stay decreased from 9 (IQR 5-19) to 7 days (IQR 4-12) (p < .001). Multivariate analyses showed that surgery after implementation of the program was a strong independent predictor for less major complications (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.32-0.88).

Conclusions: A significant decrease in major complications and mortality was observed after introduction of a relative simple quality improvement program.

Keywords: Colorectal resection; Colorectal surgery; Complications; Oncology; Quality improvement.

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