Purpose: To identify quality indicators and establish acceptable quality limits (AQLs) in pancreatic oncologic surgery using a formal statistical methodology.
Methods: Indicators have been identified through systematic literature reviews and guidelines for pancreatic surgery. AQLs were determined for each indicator with confidence intervals of 99.8 and 95 % above and below the weighted average by sample size from the different series examined.
Results: Several indicators have been identified with the following results as AQLs: resectability rate >59 %; morbidity, mortality, and pancreatic fistula rate in pancreaticoduodenectomy <55, <5, and <16 %, respectively; morbidity, mortality, and fistula rate in distal pancreatectomy <53, <4, and <31 %, respectively; number of lymph nodes retrieved >15; R1 resection <46 %; survival at 1, 3, and 5 years >54, >19, and >8 %, respectively.
Conclusions: A series of different indicators for quality surgical care outcome in pancreatic cancer, as well as their limits, have been determined according to a standard methodology.