[Evaluation of the activity and quality of care in a digestive surgery department]

Since 1980, details of all patients operated upon in a digestive surgery unit have been entered on record-cards with the view of obtaining information on the activity of the unit and improving post-operative care. Over a 3-year period, 2005 patients underwent surgery, 25% of them for cancerous lesions. Biliary tract operations (385 patients), fundoplication by the abdominal route for gastro-oesophageal reflux (58 patients) and curative resection of the colon for carcinoma (100 patients) were set apart for evaluation. For each of the above pathologies, morbidity, mortality and duration of stay in hospital in cases with uneventful or complicated post-operative course were analyzed. Annual audits of this kind result in accurate evaluation and periodical reappraisal of the therapeutic habits of the medico-surgical team.