Accuracy of administrative and clinical registry data in reporting postoperative complications after surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Issue 6 (27th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Awad, Mahmoud I.; Shuman, Andrew G.; Montero, Pablo H.; Palmer, Frank L.; Shah, Jatin P.; Patel, Snehal G.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 37:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 851
• Page End: 861
• Publication Date: 2014-06-27
• Subjects: Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23682
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="hed23682-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The purpose of this study was to describe and compare how postoperative complications after oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) surgery are reported in medical records, institutional billing claims, and national clinical registries.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23682-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The medical records of 355 previously untreated patients who underwent surgery for oral cavity SCC at our institution were retrospectively reviewed for postoperative complications. Information was compared with claims and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23682-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We identified 219 patients (62%) experiencing 544 complications (10% major). Billing claims identified 29% of these patients, 36% of overall complications, and 98% of major complications. Of overlapping patients, NSQIP identified 27% of patients, 33% of overall complications, and 100% of major complications noted on chart abstraction.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23682-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The incidence of minor postoperative complications after oral cavity SCC surgery is relatively high. Both claims data and NSQIP accurately recorded major complications, but were suboptimal compared to chart abstraction in capturing minor complications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. <italic>Head Neck</italic> 37: 851–861, 2015</p> </sec> </abstract>