From: Clinical review: Can we predict which patients are at risk of complications following surgery?
Morbidity type | Criterion | Source of data |
---|---|---|
Respiratory | Postoperative need for oxygen or respiratory support | Patient observation, drug chart |
Microbiology | Antibiotics or pyrexia >38°C in previous 24 hours | Observation chart, drug chart |
Renal | Oliguria, raised serum creatinine, new urinary catheter | Fluid balance chart, biochemistry result, patient observation |
Gastrointestinal | Failure of enteral feeding | Patient questioning, fluid balance chart, drug chart |
Cardiovascular | Diagnostic tests or treatment within last 24 hours for any of: | Drug chart, note review |
 | new myocardial infarct or ischaemia, hypotension, arrhythmias, |  |
 | cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, thrombotic event |  |
Neurological | Cerebrovascular accident/transient ischaemic attack, confusion, | Note review, patient questioning |
 | delirium, coma |  |
Haematological | Use within last 24 hours of: packed red cells, platelets, fresh-frozen | Drug chart, fluid balance chart |
 | plasma, cryoprecipitate |  |
Surgical wound | Wound dehiscence/infection needing exploration or drainage of pus | Note review, pathology result |
Pain | New pain requiring parenteral opioids or regional analgesia/anaesthesia | Drug chart, patient questioning |