How to choose the best oncological surgery centre

The choice of centre as a prognostic factor

The choice of centre and surgical team for oncological surgery affects the outcome. Patients treated at specialised high-volume centres have 20-40% higher survival.

Criteria for choosing the best centre

1. Case volume: Centres with >30 cases/year of the specific procedure have better results. For complex surgery such as HIPEC or sarcomas, >50 cases/year is ideal

2. Team experience:

• Surgeons specialised in oncology (not general surgeons)

• Specific training at reference centres

• Scientific publications in international journals

• Participation in congresses and continuing education

3. Multidisciplinary team:

• Weekly oncology committees

• Medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists

• Coordination between specialties

4. Available technology:

• Robotic surgery for complex procedures

• HIPEC for carcinomatosis (see cytoreductive surgery)

• Intraoperative radiotherapy

• Specialised ICU

5. Published success rates:

• Perioperative mortality (<2% ideal)

• Major complication rate

• Complete cytoreduction rate (R0)

• Long-term survival

6. Enhanced recovery programmes (ERAS):

• Specific protocols for each type of surgery

• Nutrition and prehabilitation

7. Access to clinical trials:

• Active research

• Treatments under investigation

Key questions for the medical team

• How many cases of my condition do you treat each year?

• What is your success/survival rate?

• What is the operative mortality?

• Do you have a multidisciplinary committee?

• What is the complete treatment plan?

• Are there alternatives to the proposed surgery?

The importance of a second opinion

Always advisable, especially in:

• Complex surgery (sarcomas, carcinomatosis, liver resections)

• When you are told the tumour is unresectable

• If the proposed plan is not clear

See the importance of a second opinion.

Why choose Quenet Torrent Institute

• >500 HIPEC procedures performed

• A team with international training

• Results published in international scientific journals

• Available technology (robotic surgery, HIPEC, PIPAC)

• Weekly multidisciplinary committee

• Perioperative mortality <2%

• Specific focus on carcinomatosis and sarcomas