[Complications in urological surgery. The urologist as a player in risk management]

The first part of this article deals with accreditation of the quality of the professional practice of urologists and medical teams working in public or private health care institutions. This is a voluntary national risk management process based on the reporting and analysis of medical risk events and the development and implementation of recommendations. The fundamental objective of the system is to reduce the frequency and severity of adverse events associated with care for the patient. The second part aims to describe the mechanisms and management of surgical complications. The perception of complications by the urologist is discussed, as it may be distorted by cognitive biases leading to inappropriate actions. Two important points were also emphasized: communication with the patient following an injury, therapeutic hazard or complication following an error, and proper maintenance of the medical record. A joint effort to cultivate a culture of safety and quality in urological surgical practice should be encouraged. Collective actions by urologists in the future should help to maintain a proactive attitude: - generalization of quality accreditation of urologic physicians' professional practice; - national registry: which has demonstrated its advantages in the world of aeronautics; - creation of a specific module "Management of complications in urology" in teaching (ECU) and continuing education (SUC, website); - creation of an AFU "Complications" Committee; - management of social networks.