[Quality assurance in plastic surgery--initial experiences with "breast reduction" tracer diagnosis].
Quality assurance has to be an integral part of medical work as it is required by actual health laws. "Tracers" have been used in different parts of medicine as a reliable method. In 1997 we started to establish an internal program for a quality assurance with five different tracers (breast augmentation, breast reduction, oncological and reconstructive breast surgery, liposuction). The outcome is prospectively documented using an operation-specific documentation form. Every three months, the results are discussed in a surgical audit. The overall complication rate after mamma reduction (n = 81) was reduced about 40% to 21% (mean reduction weight 1.7 kg). Therefore, these measurements could promptly improve the quality of treatment of our patients.
Menke
H
H
Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, Diakonie Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf.
Bechthold
J
J
Olbrisch
R R
RR
D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008485:Medical Audit; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care