Quality control and evaluation system for general thoracic surgery

Abstract: This paper addresses the current absence of a robust quality control inspection and evaluation system for general thoracic surgery in China by developing a quality control scoring system. Our objective was to establish a system focusing on patient safety, operational success, and quality of care. We establish this system by reviewing existing literature and referencing the quality control standards for lung and esophageal cancer surgery in Shanghai, facilitated by a consensus of a multidisciplinary expert panel through structured workshops. Quality control of general thoracic surgery involves many aspects such as the qualifications and technical conditions of medical institutions, preoperative diagnostic assessment, surgical procedures, postoperative management, postoperative pathological diagnosis, and follow-up. The quality standards of general thoracic surgery should be evidence-based, with specific and clear criteria and requirements that comply with universally applicable principles. Refinement management is one of the core concepts of quality control in general thoracic surgery, and it should strictly follow the requirements of thoracic surgery guidelines, establish a refined management system for standard clinical pathways, clarify the quality standards of each key link in the clinical pathway, and establish a clinical quality control system combining self-assessment with supervision and inspection. The development of our quality control scoring system represents a significant advancement in the field of general thoracic surgery. This system is designed to be a robust tool for evaluating and improving surgical practices, with a focus on enhancing patient safety and outcomes. We anticipate that its implementation will standardize quality control across hospitals and lead to tangible improvements in the overall quality of thoracic surgical care in China.