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Risk Factors for Mortality and Postoperative Complications After Gastrointestinal Surgery

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Predictors of a poor surgical outcome are numerous, of which some are well-defined. We aimed to assess risk factors predictive of poor surgical outcome across different gastrointestinal operations related to the patient, the disease, the treatment, and the organization of care.

Methods

Data from 5,255 unselected patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery from 1995 through 1998 was prospectively recorded in a clinical database and validated. The database embraced variables related to patient history, preoperative clinical condition, operative findings and complexity, and the surgeon’s training. Variables predictive of mortality and complications occurring within 30 days after surgery were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

After elective operation, the 30-day mortality was 2.8% and major complications occurred in 11.5% of the patients. The corresponding figures in emergency surgery were 13.8% and 30.1%. Independent of elective or emergency surgery, dependent functional status, and type of operation were associated with postoperative mortality. Comorbidity, type of operation, blood loss, and reoperation were predictors of complications regardless of elective or emergency operation. In elective surgery, predictors of poor surgical outcome were high age, comorbidity, malignancy, and the surgeons training, whereas abnormal vital signs values and peritonitis were predictors of poor outcome after emergency surgery.

Conclusion

Premorbid factors, characteristics of the disease, the patients’ preoperative condition, operative factors, and the surgeon’s training are all associated with surgical outcome across different gastrointestinal operations and should be assessed when auditing surgical outcome.

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Acknowledgments

The study received financial support from the Danish National Board of Health. The authors wish to thank S. Meisner and the surgical staff of the department for collecting the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Bispebjerg Hospital, 2400, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars Tue Sørensen MD, Afshin Malaki MD, Peer Wille-Jørgensen MD, DMSci, Finn Kallehave MD, Johan Kjærgaard MD, DMSci & Ulla Hemmingsen RN

  2. Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lisbeth Nørgaard Møller (Statistician) & Torben Jørgensen MD, DMSci

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  1. Lars Tue Sørensen MD
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  2. Afshin Malaki MD
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  8. Torben Jørgensen MD, DMSci
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Correspondence to Lars Tue Sørensen MD.

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Sørensen, L.T., Malaki, A., Wille-Jørgensen, P. et al. Risk Factors for Mortality and Postoperative Complications After Gastrointestinal Surgery. J Gastrointest Surg 11, 903–910 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-007-0165-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-007-0165-4

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