Medical audit: assessment of surgical performance in a low volume specialty

We describe a simple technique for auditing one aspect of the activity of a neurosurgical unit--the surgical operations performed. A proforma completed by the surgeon at the time of operation was brought up-to-date on subsequent daily ward rounds. Each week, the medical staff of the unit met to review the data sheets of those patients discharged during the previous seven days. This meeting served to ensure the completeness of the data and to discuss any problems in management before the records were computerized. At the end of the first year, problems which had become apparent in the system were identified and corrected. The revised system involves a comprehensive and prospective audit of relevant clinical information. It has led to the accumulation of a considerable quantity of reliable data and it involves frequent positive feedback which appears to be leading to an improvement in treatment outcome. The system is simple to administer and is economical of time. It should be suitable for any surgical specialty which resembles neurosurgery in dealing with a relatively small volume of major procedures, and it could easily be adapted to audit other aspects of the activity of a unit.