[Collective self-evaluations in vascular surgery: indispensable lever for optimizing results].

The quality of the results obtained for a given surgical team cannot be guaranteed by simply applying the recommendations of scientific research and consensus conferences. Self-evaluations is as important as continuous training. It is essential for each surgical team to regularly evaluate its results and compare them with those published in the literature in order to make necessary improvements. Lessons learned from mortality-morbidity sessions studying complications case by case should be completed with an annual assessment of complications for each group of operations, first because knowledge of results is required before modifications in technique and organization can be indicated and secondly because the discussion of all the results with the entire surgical team, including both medical and paramedical personnel, offers the best means of optimizing competency and team cohesion and effort. Useful means include: 1) self-assessment software similar to those used for MSI, 2) a requirement for self-assessment before annual fund allocations, 3) that the self-assessments remain the property of the surgical teams in order to avoid missing the goal which is to optimize surgical indications and results.