THE GOTHENBURG STUDY OF PERIOPERATIVE RISK .1. PREOPERATIVE FINDINGS,POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS

The Gothenburg study of Perioperative Risk is a prospective clinical-e pidemiological study designed to elucidate factors affecting the perio perative risk in unselected adult patients undergoing elective general or orthopaedic surgery. In this report reference data regarding preop erative characteristics and postoperative complications are presented. 1770 adult patients scheduled for elective general, urological, perip heral vascular or orthopaedic operative procedures were invited to a p reoperative clinic. 81% agreed to participate and were assessed in a s tandardised way by means of questionnaires, interview, physical examin ation and laboratory screening. 82% had a previous or present conditio n in the medical history of some concern to the assessor. 71% had a fi nding of significance on physical examination. In 8% the assessment pr ompted further investigations or precautions. Throughout their hospita l stay, all the 1361 participating patients were visited daily by an e specially trained nurse with the task of registering the occurrence of complications. In 30% an untoward event occurred postoperatively - in 1% a severe one, in 21% a mild event, and in 8% an intermediate one. The complication rate was higher in vascular surgery (69%) than in ort hopaedic (33%) and general/urological surgery (26%). Not only the seve re and intermediate but also the mild complications affected the numbe r of days in hospital.