Consensus on ambulatory care among Quebec otolaryngologists

Objectives: The aims of this study were to obtain consensus on the suitabil ity (or nonsuitability) of outpatient facilities for 15 ENT surgical proced ures, to identify the factors involved in the decision making, and to use t he Delphi method to evaluate it for this purpose. Method: A prospective study of 26 practising otolaryngologists in the Provi nce of Quebec, using the Delphi method (3 rounds), was conducted. Fifteen a dult and nine paediatric surgical procedures were included. Results: Consensus (85% agreement) was obtained for eight procedures: septo plasty, rhinoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, otoplasty, mastotympanoplast y, lymph node biopsy, and branchial cyst excision (outpatient procedures) a nd tracheostomy (inpatient procedure). Conclusion: The Delphi method has been useful in initiating a process of ra tionalization about outpatient surgery.