title: Electronic synoptic operative reporting for thyroid surgery using an electronic data management system: potential for prospective multicenter data collection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electronic synoptic operative reports ensure systematic documentation of all critical components and findings during complex surgical procedures. Thyroid surgery lends itself to synoptic reporting, because there are a predefined number of essential intraoperative events and findings that every endocrine surgeon invariably records.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic web-based form (e-form) was designed and implemented to record operative data in a synoptic structure for thyroid surgery. The e-form was implemented as a pilot study from January 2008 to October 2009 for use by three attending surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this period, 514 e-forms were completed with 100% compliance, which recorded data from 384 total thyroidectomies and 130 thyroid lobectomies. All users found the e-form to be easy to use, comprehensive, and took less than 5 min to complete.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main advantages of a web-based e-form for synoptic recording of thyroid surgery are that it is user-friendly and easy to complete, yet comprehensive. Because it is based on a system available across institutions, it can be used as a minimum dataset and could be considered a national and international standard for wider use, especially if endorsed by the American or International Association for Endocrine Surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: N Gopalakrishna
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Iain J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ganly
authors.forename: Snehal G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Ashok R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shaha
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy