[Comparative analysis of efficiency indicators in ambulatory surgery]. / Análisis comparativo de indicadores de eficiencia en cirugía mayor ambulatoria.

OBJECTIVE: To find comparative elements for quality control in major ambulatory surgery (MAS) units. METHOD: Descriptive and comparative study of the Ambulatory Care Index (AI) and Substitution Index (SI) in the Santa Cristina Hospital Surgery Service (Madrid, Spain) compared to Key Indicators (KI) of the National Health Service (NHS). RESULTS: 7,817 MAS procedures (between 2006 and 2014) were analysed. The average annual AI was 54%, higher (p <0.0001) than «ambulatory surgery¼ KI. The hernia outpatient procedures (average 72%) were also superior to the national KI (p <0.0001), but ambulatory haemorrhoidectomy (average 33.6%) was clearly lower (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: KI of the NHS are useful and allow to establish a proper development in the global AI and hernia outpatient surgery with opportunities for improvement in haemorrhoidectomy. Their collection should be careful, not including minor surgeries. Also, their usefulness could be increased if data was broken down by speciality and by complexity.

Analysis of weight loss with the biliopancreatic diversion of Larrad: absolute failures or relative successes?

BACKGROUND: The authors studied whether morbidly obese patients who failed in stated weight loss criteria may be considered absolute failures or relative successes. METHODS: 75 morbidly obese patients underwent biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) of Larrad, with a 4/5 gastrectomy (residual gastric volume 150-200 ml), a biliopancreatic limb divided 50 cm distal to Treitz' ligament, a 50-cm common limb and an alimentary limb of nearly all the bowel length (500-600 cm). Every patient had a follow-up of 5 years. A percent excess weight loss (%EWL) < 50% was considered a "failure". We analyzed the post-surgical changes in the preoperative obesity-related problems in these patients and the causes of the weight loss failure. RESULTS: At 5 years after the BPD of Larrad, 9 patients (12%) had a %EWL < 50%, with a mean %EWL of 36 in these patients. Most of these failed patients were cured or improved of their preoperative illnesses. The 2 males were alcoholics, and 6 of the 7 females had an abnormal psychological examination. Comparing the "failed" patients with the successful group, there is a statistically significant influence (p < 0.01) of lack of satiety, unmarried status, housewife or unemployed. CONCLUSION: Patients judged as a failure by weight loss criteria after bariatric surgery should not be considered absolute failures, because most of their preoperative illnesses were cured or improved, improving their quality of life. Thus, they are "relative successes".

Análisis comparativo de indicadores de eficiencia en cirugía mayor ambulatoria / Comparative analysis of efficiency indicators in ambulatory surgery

Objetivo: Buscar elementos comparativos para el control de calidad en unidades de cirugía mayor ambulatoria (CMA). Método: Estudio descriptivo comparativo del índice de ambulatorización (IA) y el índice de sustitución (IS) en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Santa Cristina, de Madrid (España), respecto a indicadores clave (IC) del Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS). Resultados: Se analizaron 7817 procedimientos de CMA (entre 2006 y 2014) y se obtuvo un IA anual medio del 54%, superior (p <0,0001) al IC «Porcentaje de ambulatorización quirúrgica». Igualmente, la ambulatorización herniaria (media 72%) superó al IC nacional (p <0,0001), mientras que el IS «Hemorroidectomía» (media 33,6%) fue claramente inferior (p <0,0001). Conclusiones: Los IC del SNS son útiles y han permitido determinar un buen desarrollo en la ambulatorización global y de hernia, existiendo oportunidades de mejora en hemorroidectomía. Debe cuidarse su recogida, sin incluir cirugías menores, y su utilidad aumentaría si se ofrecieran datos desglosados por especialidades y complejidad

Objective: To find comparative elements for quality control in major ambulatory surgery (MAS) units. Method: Descriptive and comparative study of the Ambulatory Care Index (AI) and Substitution Index (SI) in the Santa Cristina Hospital Surgery Service (Madrid, Spain) compared to Key Indicators (KI) of the National Health Service (NHS). Results: 7,817 MAS procedures (between 2006 and 2014) were analysed. The average annual AI was 54%, higher (p <0.0001) than «ambulatory surgery» KI. The hernia outpatient procedures (average 72%) were also superior to the national KI (p <0.0001), but ambulatory haemorrhoidectomy (average 33.6%) was clearly lower (p <0.0001). Conclusions: KI of the NHS are useful and allow to establish a proper development in the global AI and hernia outpatient surgery with opportunities for improvement in haemorrhoidectomy. Their collection should be careful, not including minor surgeries. Also, their usefulness could be increased if data was broken down by speciality and by complexity

Evidencias científicas en el tratamiento de la hernia inguinal / Scientific evidence in the treatment of inguinal hernia

La hernia inguinal es una de las afecciones que más frecuentemente sufre el ser humano. En los últimos años ha pasado de ser considerada un tema poco importante a ser uno de los procesos mejor estudiados y donde la excelencia del tratamiento se ha convertido en el objetivo final. Hemos analizado la evolución histórica del tratamiento quirúrgico de la hernia inguinal, desde la etapa anatómica a la protésica, llegando finalmente a la vía laparoscópica. Las causas del cambio en el manejo de la hernia inguinal son factores profesionales, del paciente, tecnológicos y administrativos. Todos ellos, junto con la utilización de la medicina basada en la evidencia, pretenden encontrar la técnica quirúrgica ideal para el tratamiento del paciente y llegar a conseguir como fin último la excelencia del proceso terapéutico (AU)