Assessing Risk in Patient Care

Abstract

As practicing cardiovascular surgeons, we often treat seriously ill and high-risk patients. I was an associate of Michael Ellis DeBakey in a developing field of cardiovascular surgery. We were referred patients who could not be cared for or operated on elsewhere. They came for life- and limb-saving operations. Dr. DeBakey s goal was to provide these patients with optimal care. We were willing to undertake new high-risk procedures in patients as long as there was a potential for recovery. For many of these innovative procedures, operative risk and long-term outcome were not yet determined. Our risk assessment was developed by clinical experience. With experience, risk assessment improved. Today, risk assessment has expanded beyond the patient.