The Super 2022 Guideline for Reporting of Surgical Technique

ObjectiveExisting reporting guidelines pay insufficient attention to the detail and comprehensiveness reporting of surgical technique. The SUPER (Surgical techniqUe rePorting chEcklist and standaRds) aims to address this gap by defining reporting standards for surgical technique.Study designFollowing the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network approach, 15 surgeons, journal editors, and methodologists reviewed existing reporting guidelines relating to surgical technique, reviewed papers from 15 top journals, and brainstormed with 23 multidisciplinary international Delphi panel experts to draft initial items for the SUPER. The initial items were revised through a three-round Delphi survey consensus process. The final SUPER items were formed after an online consensus meeting to resolve disagreements and a three-round wording refinement by all 42 SUPER group members, including 4 SUPER consultants.ResultsThe SUPER guideline includes 22 items that are considered essential for good and informative surgical technique reporting. The items are divided into six sections: background, rationale, and objectives (items 1 to 5); preoperative preparations and requirements (items 6 to 9); surgical technique details (items 10 to 15); postoperative considerations and tasks (items 16 to 19); summary and prospect (items 20 and 21); and other information (item 22).ConclusionsThe SUPER guideline has the potential to guide detailed, comprehensive, and transparent surgical technique reporting for surgeons. It may also assist journal editors, peer reviewers, systematic reviewers, and guideline developers in the evaluation of surgical technique papers and help practitioners to better understand and reproduce surgical technique.Study Registrationhttps://www.equator-network.org/library/reporting-guidelines-under-development/reporting-guidelines-under-development-for-other-study-designs/#SUPER