Development of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' Rectal Cancer Surgery Checklist.
BACKGROUND
There is excellent evidence that surgical safety checklists contribute to decreased morbidity and mortality.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop a surgical checklist composed of the key phases of care for patients with rectal cancer.


METHODS
A consensus-oriented decision-making model involving iterative input from subject matter experts under the auspices of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons was designed.


METHODS
The study was conducted through meetings and discussion to consensus.


METHODS
Patient data were extracted from an initial literature review.


METHODS
The checklist was measured by its ability to improve care in complex rectal surgery cases by reducing the possibility of omission through the division of treatment into 3 distinct phases.


RESULTS
The process generated a 25-item checklist covering the spectrum of care for patients with rectal cancer who were undergoing surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The study was limited by its lack of prospective validation.


CONCLUSIONS
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons rectal cancer surgery checklist is composed of the essential elements of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care that must be addressed during the surgical treatment of patients with rectal cancer.
1 Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine and US Air Force C-STARS, St. Louis, Missouri 2 Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 3 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 4 Department of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 5 Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 6 Ferguson Clinic, Grand Rapids, Michigan 7 Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 8 Departments of Surgical Oncology and Health Services Research, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 9 Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Medical Center, New York, New York.
Sean C
SC
Glasgow
Arden M
AM
Morris
Nancy N
NN
Baxter
James W
JW
Fleshman
Karim S
KS
Alavi
Martin A
MA
Luchtefeld
John R T
JR
Monson
George J
GJ
Chang
Larissa K
LK
Temple
D057189:Checklist; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012955:Societies, Medical