Surgery prohibited

The Healthcare Inspection group has ordered 14 hospitals to stop surgery on the gullet to remove a tumour.

In 2006, the hospitals had carried out this risky procedure although not able to achieve the norm of at least ten annually, which the inspection group found irresponsible.

Survival chances are 2.5 times higher when this operation is carried out in a hospital experienced in this type of surgery, so the Inspection demands that hospitals perform at least 10 a year.

Research showed that half of the hospitals that were allowed to operate did not have the right intensive care units for these patients. In all, 600 patients have received gullet surgery.

31.08.2007

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