title: [Minimum quantities from a thoracic surgical standpoint].
abstract: The dependence of operation lethality on hospital volume has been scientifically determined for thoracic surgery. Conclusions on the quality of the results are possible based on the structure and quality of the procedure. Minimum quantities for specialized centers in thoracic surgery have been established as 300 resectional operations on thoracic organs without mediastinoscopy, operations with the heart-lung machine, and thoracic drainage. Minimum quantities are necessary to uphold sufficient complication management by appropriate practice and experience and to keep operation lethality down. They are also needed for financing staff (at least two full-time active specialists in thoracic surgery). The concentration of thoracic surgical services at main hospitals (minimum 300 operations per year) and organ centers (minimum 500 resectional operations on thoracic organs per year) is reasonable for the 45,500 operations expected in Germany.
authors.affiliation: HELIOS Klinikum Emil von Behring, Klinik für Thoraxchirurgie, Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, Walterhöferstrasse 11, Berlin, Germany. dirk.kaiser@helios-kliniken.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards*