[Evaluation of quality of care in a general surgery department]

A permanent evaluation of a department's activity and the quality of health care it provides is needed to avoid inappropriate use resulting from a wide range of causes. The activity of a general surgery department treating and average of 1,500 patients per year and performing 1,200 operations was analyzed over the period 1986 to 1992. Post-operative hospital follow-up was noted for each patient and any complications were analyzed on discharge day by the surgeons, the anaesthesiologists and the nursing staff. A year-end sum up was conducted each year by homogeneous groups. Examples are presented: surgery for cancer of the oesophagus (122 cases), surgery for gastro-oesophageal reflux (120 cases), thyroid surgery (1,314 cases from 1988 to 1992). Complications, hospital stay and former pathologies were evaluated in order to determine the indications, prevent complications and evaluate more rapidly the advantages of modifications in techniques. The results were compared between surgeons. This daily evaluation allowed a better analysis than a retrospective study compared with data in the literature. Permanent personal reevaluation was one of the practical consequences of the study considered to be and enriching experience.