pubmed-article:9422868 | pubmed:abstractText | This system for interdepartmental collection of data on surgical complications should, though designed for otolaryngology, be applicable to any surgical specialty. The system under which data are collected prospectively on a coded proforma has been shown to document considerably higher complication rates than retrospective, uncoded data collection and, as consultants are unlikely to report non-existent complications, we assume that the higher rates are more valid. The system also provides a list of factors which must be standardised before data on complication rates from different units can usefully be pooled or comparisons made between them. | lld:pubmed |