The Colectomy Improvement Project: Do Evidence-Based Guidelines Improve Institutional Colectomy Outcomes?

This study evaluates whether increased adherence to eight specific practice parameters leads to improved outcomes in patients undergoing elective colorectal resections. In addition, we analyzed whether physicians with better compliance achieved better patient outcomes. Compliance to practice parameters and subsequent outcomes were compared between two groups relative to an educational intervention promoting the eight best practice guidelines selected. A total of 485 patients were identified over a 4-year period and were separated into a pre- (n = 273) and posteducation (n = 212) group. After the educational intervention, there was increased compliance in five of the eight practice parameters (P < 0.05). When outcomes where examined, the readmission rate (2.4% vs 8.4%; P = 0.005) and the incidence of deep surgical infections (0% vs 1.8%; P = 0.01) were significantly decreased when comparing the posteducational group to that of the group before intervention. A lower rate of anastomotic leaks were identified in the posteducation group, but this did not reach significance (1.9% vs 5.1%; P = .09). When analyzed individually, the most compliant physicians achieved better patient outcomes than their peers. Education of the operative team improved adherence to practice parameters and this may have contributed to improving patient outcomes.