Duke University Researchers Identify Factors Relating to Mortality Under Anesthesia

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., have verified data that suggest three factors correlate with mortality for patients under anesthesia, according to a Health Canal report.

The three risk factors are the median arterial pressure, median anesthetic concentration and the bispectral index. The BIS is a complex mathematical algorithm that measures the effect of anesthetic drugs on the brain and tracks a patient's level of sedation.

The researchers found that the risk of death was 2.5 times higher after the first year of surgery if the patient had low values in all three measures, referred to as a "triple low."

The researchers said physicians who learn about the "triple low" set of factors should be alert to patient needs after surgery and should watch for potential problems.

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