Optimisation of high risk surgical patients improves mortality in clinical practice

Introduction

Deliberately increasing oxygen delivery (DO₂) in the peri-operative period has been shown to improve survival for high risk surgical patients, in several randomised, controlled, trails [1].

Design, subjects and methods

A prospective study evaluating the efficacy of increasing peri-operative oxygen delivery in high risk surgical patients, to greater than 600 ml/min/m² with dopexamine hydrochloride, in routine clinical practice

Results

Expressed as medians with 25%, 75% centiles.

Conclusions

An 11.9% 28 day mortality rate compares favourably with historical controls and clinical trials. This study confirms that the technique of increasing DO₂ in the peri-operative period is both practical and beneficial in routine clinical practice.

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