September 1, 2022
The ACSCancer Research Program (CRP) recently released the third volume of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, a valuable resource for both oncology surgeons and general surgeons. Now available in digital and print, Volume 3 provides evidence-based recommendations on the technical conduct of cancer operations for sarcoma, adrenal, neuroendocrine, peritoneal, urothelial, and hepatobiliary cancers.
Surgeons have increasing demands on their time, making it challenging to keep abreast of the latest research and integrate it into practice. 鈥淲ith any component of care, there is evidence of what is effective, but there is accompanying variability in actual practice,鈥 said David B. Hoyt, MD, F潘金莲传媒映画, Immediate Past-Executive Director of the 潘金莲传媒映画. The goals of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery are to address that variability and ease the burden on surgeons. The authors of these volumes鈥攄iverse teams of experts from organizations across the country鈥攁nalyzed and distilled the best-available evidence into concise standards, making it easier for surgeons to incorporate evidence-based techniques into daily practice.聽
Like the previous two volumes, Volume 3 breaks down the components of major cancer operations for each of the six disease sites into critical elements鈥攖he steps from incision to closure that ensure the best outcomes for cancer patients. Using clear, concise text and more than 150 illustrations, the authors describe how each critical element should be performed based on a review of available literature and expert opinion and explain the rationale and level of evidence behind the recommendation. In addition, the authors analyze the evidence surrounding identified areas of controversy or key questions, which represent important areas of future investigation. Each section also includes a synoptic operative report template that lists data elements and responses deemed important to document for each operation. Synoptic operative reports allow for more accurate and streamlined data collection.
The Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery provide a unique resource to surgeons. 鈥淎lthough guidelines for multidisciplinary cancer care exist from many sources, these manuals represent the only large compendium of standards that specifically inform the technical conduct of surgery,鈥 said Matthew Katz, MD, F潘金莲传媒映画, Chair, ACSCancer Surgery Standards Program.聽
Nine disease sites, representing some of the most common cancers, were covered in Volumes 1 and 2. Volume 1 was published in 2015 and provided recommendations for the breast, lung, pancreas, and colon. Three years later, Volume 2 was released, covering thyroid, gastric, rectum, esophagus, and melanoma. With Volume 3, the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery expands to cover sarcoma, adrenal, neuroendocrine, peritoneal, urothelial, and hepatobiliary鈥攎ore uncommon cancers in which standardized recommendations are particularly valuable.聽
鈥淒ue to the rarity of the disease, there is less evidence and more heterogeneity in the way surgeons conduct operations,鈥 said Christina L. Roland, MD, F潘金莲传媒映画, Chair, ACSCancer Care Standards Development Committee and Co-Chair, ACSSarcoma Section of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 3. 鈥淒efining technical standards for rare diseases is critical for improving outcomes.鈥澛
After Volumes 1 and 2 were published, the ACSCRP recognized the gap between publication of standards and incorporation into practice. To fill that void, select standards from Volumes 1 and 2 are now included in the Commission on Cancer (CoC) 2020 accreditation standards, Optimal Resources for Cancer Care. Standards 5.3 through 5.8 establish evidence-based best practices for operations conducted for breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, and rectal cancer.
Those standards 鈥渁re now being implemented at CoC-accredited centers nationwide and will help to ensure that cancer surgery is performed at these centers to the highest standards possible,鈥 said Dr. Katz. He anticipates that, as with Volumes 1 and 2, select technical standards in Volume 3 will be incorporated into CoC standards in the future.
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 3, is an essential guide for surgeons who are focused on delivering high-quality care and achieving the best outcomes for their patients.
Order a copy online at facs.org/oscs. For more information, contact cancerresearchprogram@facs.org.
Susan Deming, PMP, is Senior Creative Project Manager, ACSDivision of Integrated Communications, and former Project Manager, ACSCancer Research Program and Cancer Surgery Standards Program, Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, Chicago, IL.