Colorectal cancer audit: a comparative study before and after establishing a specialty colorectal surgery unit.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective audit was kept for colorectal cancer after the establishment of a special-interest colorectal unit at a Melbourne metropolitan teaching hospital.


METHODS
These data were compared with data collected retrospectively on surgical management of colorectal cancer by general surgeons in the hospital.


RESULTS
The groups were well matched with respect to age, sex, pathological staging and elective vs urgent surgery. Differences were found in postoperative length of stay (9 vs 12 days, P = 0.01) in favour of the colorectal special interest group. Differences were found in the permanent stoma rate with regard to rectal cancer with the colorectal special interest group having a lower permanent stoma rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Specialisation improved the results of treatment.
Sitzler
P J
PJ
Western Hospital, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia.
Taylor
M
M
Faragher
I
I
McLaughlin
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D003082:Colectomy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003625:Data Collection; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008485:Medical Audit; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review; D014739:Victoria