Assessing improvements in quality using textbook outcomes in colorectal surgery: A systematic review

Textbook outcome is a composite measure of several clinically important perioperative outcomes that are included in the definition of ideal surgical care. The aim of this study is to summarize the different definitions concerning textbook outcome in colorectal surgery. A systematic review of the literature according to PRISMA guidelines was carried out until April 2025. Primary studies on adult patients undergoing colon or rectal resection and assessing the textbook outcomes of the procedure were included. Twenty-one studies were included for review. Textbook outcomes achieved varied from 41.8% to 80.8%. The most prevalent variables were "no mortality" and "length of stay" (85.7%). The variable that contributed mostly to not meeting the definition of textbook outcome was "no complications" (42.9%), with 6 possible definitions. As a result of the variability described, a consensus is to be reached in order to validate the extension of this tool. The proposed definition for textbook outcomes in colorectal surgery would be the following: no complications (>III Clavien-Dindo), length of stay (<75th percentile), no readmissions (<30 days), no mortality (<30 days), and oncological surgery (R0 resection and >12 lymph nodes).