Risk Calculator Predicts Postoperative Respiratory Failure

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania have developed an interactive risk calculator to predict postoperative respiratory failure, defined as mechanical ventilation required more than 48 hours after surgery or unplanned intubation within 30 days of surgery, according to a Medscape report.


A report published in the Nov. 2011 issue of Chest analyzed the association of PRF with several clinical outcomes and applied the data to develop a risk calculator for postoperative morbidity and mortality.

The data showed five strong predictors for PRF:

• Surgery type
• Emergency case
• Dependent functional status
• Preoperative sepsis
• Higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class

The riskiest surgeries were those involving the brain, aorta and foregut/hepatopancreatobiliary region.

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