Quality Improvement in the Surgical Approach to Advanced Ovarian Cancer: The Mayo Clinic Experience

BackgroundAfter observing disparate rates of cytoreduction, we initiated efforts to improve outcomes through feedback and education, and we reassessed outcomes.Study DesignOutcomes from group A (2006 and 2007, n = 105) were compared with those from the cohort predating quality-improvement efforts (group B, 2000 to 2003, n = 132). All stage IIIC ovarian cancer patients at our institution were evaluated for tumor dissemination, age, performance status, surgical complexity, residual disease (RD), morbidity, and mortality. A surgical complexity score previously described was used to categorize extent of operation.ResultsNo significant differences in age, performance status, or extent of disease were observed between cohorts. Surgical complexity increased after initiation of quality improvement (mean surgical complexity score, 5.5 to 7.1; p < 0.001), rates of optimal RD (< 1 cm) improved from 77% to 85% (p = 0.157), and rates of complete resection of all gross disease rose from 31% to 43% (p = 0.188). In the subset of patients with carcinomatosis most likely to benefit from extended surgical resection, radical procedures were used more frequently (63% versus 79%; p = 0.028), rates of optimal debulking (RD < 1 cm) increased (64% to 79%), and the rate of RD = 0 increased from 6% to 24% (p = 0.006). When disease was noted on the diaphragm, procedures to remove the disease were more frequently used (38% to 64%; p = 0.001). The rates of major perioperative morbidity (group B, 21% versus group A, 20%; p = 0.819) and 3-month mortality (8% versus 6%; p = 0.475) were not affected despite this more aggressive surgical approach.ConclusionsAnalysis of outcomes with appropriate feedback and education is a powerful tool for quality improvement. We observed improvements in rates of cytoreduction and use of specific radical procedures, with no increase in morbidity as a result of this process.