Team-based strategies were associated with significant reductions in operative times among patients with head and neck cancer, with no increase in complications, according to results published in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery. Christiaan Schrag, MD, and colleagues examined whether team-based strategies and new technology could reduce complications associated with long operating times. The cohort included 578 patients (30.9% women; mean age, 60.8) undergoing 590 procedures. During the study period, operating times progressively decreased and reached a 32% decrease in the last years. A significant reduction was seen in mean operating time after the initiation of each intervention. Multivariate analysis showed that team-based strategies, including the use of a standardized nursing team, treatment centralization, and a fellowship program, were significantly associated with a decrease in operating time.
