Prevalence of the Clavien Dindo Classification in the Reporting of Surgical Complications in Major Urological Journals
Abstract
Objectives To review the methods of surgical complication reporting in urological journals, to determine the
current utilisation of the Clavien Dindo classification, and to make comparison with previous reports over the last 10
years.
Methods A search was performed of all journal articles published in 5 major urological journals from January 2021
to April 2022, inclusive. All articles reporting surgical outcomes or complications were analysed. The current trend
in complication reporting was compared with the results of the systematic search of the same 5 urological journals
performed in 2012 by Yoon et al.
Results A total of 137 articles were identified. The Clavien Dindo classification was the most common method
used (105/137, 76.6%) followed by a text-based descriptive classification (31/137, 22.6%). Notably, the Clavien Dindo
classification was the only standardised method used in any of the articles examined. The prevalence of Clavien
Dindo classification usage is 76.6% in the articles analysed in our search compared with the 33.3% reported by Yoon et
al. in their search of papers published in the same 5 urological journals between 2010 and 2012.
Conclusions There has been a significant increase in the adoption of the Clavien Dindo classification in the
reporting of complications in major urological journals in the last decade. This is a favourable trend which is likely
in response to the ad hoc EAU Guidelines Panel 2012 recommendations. With more than 20% of journal articles still
using descriptive text-based classifications, we should continue to encourage further implementation of standardised
criteria, particularly the Clavien Dindo classification.
The Société International d'Urologie (SIU), which owns and publishes the Société International d'Urologie Journal (SIUJ), does not require authors of papers published in the journal to transfer copyright. Instead, we ask authors to grant an exclusive licence that allows us to publish the article in SIUJ (and any derivative or related products or publications) and that allows us to sub-license such rights and exploit all subsidiary rights.
Authors retain the right to use their own articles for their own non-commercial purposes without seeking explicit permission from SIU.
The SIUJ publication licence expressly defines “non-commercial” as “not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation.” Although no activity is completely disconnected from commercial activity, the following are generally considered to be non-commercial uses:
- Reproduction of a reasonable number (no more than 100) of print copies of the published paper for personal use (e.g., sharing with colleagues, including in grant applications).
- Posting a copy of the published version of the paper on the author’s own or their institution’s website. The article must be accompanied by this statement: ‘This article has been published in the SIUJ: [full citation; link]’.
- Inclusion of the paper in a course pack, with a maximum of 100 copies to be used in the author’s institution. The copies must include the following acknowledgement: ‘This article has been published in the SIUJ: [full citation; link].’
As the distinction between commercial and non-commercial is not always clear, authors are strongly advised to seek permission from SIU for any use that may be considered to have a commercial aspect.
We ask the corresponding author to read the terms of the licence and then to grant this exclusive licence on behalf of all authors by indicating agreement to the following statement:
The corresponding author has the right to grant on behalf of all authors and does grant on behalf of all authors, an exclusive licence on a worldwide basis to the SIU and its licensees to permit this article (if accepted) to be published in the SIUJ and any other SIU products and publications and to exploit all subsidiary rights, as set out in our licence agreement.
Review and Decision
Most submissions will be reviewed by a senior editor within 2 weeks. Many manuscripts will be rejected at this point for a variety of reasons, including subject matter outside the scope of the SIUJ, flawed design, discredited or outdated methodology, poor organization or presentation, failure to conform to ethical requirements, and apparent plagiarism.The remaining manuscripts will be sent for peer review. The SIUJ uses a single-blind process: reviewers know the identity of the authors, but the authors are not told who has reviewed their manuscript, and SIUJ ensures that potentially identifying information is removed from comments sent to them. Reviewers are asked to make their recommendations within 10 days, after which a senior/specialist editor will consider their comments and recommend provisional acceptance dependent on satisfactory revision, acceptance without revision, or rejection. Authors should receive a final decision within 4 to 6 weeks of submission.
