title: [Pilot benchmarking study of thoracic surgery in Spain: comparison of cases of lung resection and indicators of quality].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the methods and conclusions of the first Spanish benchmarking study of thoracic surgery. The proposed aims were to describe cases of lung resection in 9 Spanish hospitals, compare indicators of quality among the 9 participating centers, and identify and propose common areas where lung-resection processes could be improved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was taken from the minimum basic data set for lobectomy and pneumonectomy processes performed in 2002 and 2003. The chosen outcome indicators were in-hospital mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay, and emergency readmissions within 30 days of discharge, adjusted according to surgical complexity. Once the results had been analyzed, the participating centers with best outcomes were identified and a variety of proposed improvements were discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1666 procedures (1276 lobectomies and 390 pneumectomies) were studied. We found differences in mean length of stay, mortality, readmission rate, and morbidity that identified centers with lower mortality or shorter hospital stay for comparable or more complex surgical procedures. However, higher morbidity and readmission rates were found in these centers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measures were proposed to ensure that relevant diagnostic information is recorded on discharge. It was also proposed to reduce unnecessarily long hospital stays and to standardize the procedures. With such an approach, reliable criteria that improve the quality of lung-resection processes can be established in the future.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario, Salamanca, España. gvs@usal.es
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Laureano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molins
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Astudillo
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Borro
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canalís
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freixinet
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández Ortiz
authors.forename: Florentino
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hernando Trancho
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maestre
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013030:Spain