Exploring the concept of centralization of surgery for benign esophageal diseases: a Delphi based consensus from the European Society for Diseases of the Esophagus

Summary Surgery for benign esophageal diseases may be complex, requiring specialist training, but currently, unlike oncologic surgery, it is not centralized. The aim of the study was to explore the opinion of European surgeons on the centralization of surgery for benign esophageal diseases. A web-based questionnaire, developed through a modified Delphi process, was administered to general and thoracic surgeons of 33 European surgical societies. There were 791 complete responses (98.5%), in 59.2% of respondents, the age ranged between 41 and 60 years, 60.3% of respondents worked in tertiary centers. In 2017, the number of major surgical procedures performed for any esophageal disease by respondents was <10 for 56.5% and >100 for 4.5%; in responder’s hospitals procedures number was <10 in 27% and >100 in 15%. Centralization of surgery for benign esophageal diseases was advocated by 83.4%, in centers located according to geographic/population criteria (69.3%), in tertiary hospitals (74.5%), with availability of advanced diagnostic and interventional technologies (88.4%), in at least 10 beds units (70.5%). For national and international centers accreditation/certification, criteria approved included in-hospital mortality and morbidity (95%), quality of life oriented follow-up after surgery (88.9%), quality audits (82.6%), academic research (58.2%), and collaboration with national and international centers (76.6%); indications on surgical procedures volumes were variable. The present study strongly supports the centralization of surgery for benign esophageal diseases, in large part modeled on the principles that have underpinned the centralization of cancer surgery internationally, with emphasis on structure, process, volumes, quality audit, and clinical research.