Validation of MTL30 as a quality indicator for colorectal surgery.

Abstract

BackgroundValid indicators are required to measure surgical quality. These ideally should be sensitive and selective while being easy to understand and adjust. We propose here the MTL30 quality indicator which takes into account 30-day mortality, transfer within 30 days, and a length of stay of 30 days as composite markers of an uneventful operative/postoperative course.MethodsPatients documented in the StuDoQ|Colon and StuDoQ|Rectal carcinoma register of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) were analyzed with regard to the effects of patient and tumor-related risk factors as well as postoperative complications on the MTL30.ResultsIn univariate analysis, the MTL30 correlated significantly with patient and tumor-related risk factors such as ASA score (pConclusionThe MTL30 is a valid indicator of colorectal surgical quality.