Intraoperative Performance Evaluation in Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal resections account for a disproportionate burden of morbidity within general surgery, and most major complications probably originate in the operating room. A number of intraoperative factors are known to contribute to outcomes in colorectal surgery and yet no generally accepted metrics exist to evaluate the safety and quality of intraoperative care. Some composite performance scores have been described but are not commonly in use. Experiences from other surgical specialties can inform future efforts to develop, validate, and implement intraoperative quality indicators for colorectal surgery.