Comparison of POSSUM with APACHE II for prediction of outcome from a surgical high-dependency unit.
POSSUM and APACHE II scores from 117 consecutive admissions to a high-dependency unit after major surgery were correlated with 30-day morbidity and mortality rates. Thirteen patients (11 per cent) died and 59 (50 per cent) developed a postoperative complication. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed POSSUM to have good predictive value for mortality (area under curve 0.75) and morbidity (area under curve 0.82). APACHE II scores had a significantly inferior predictive value for mortality (area under curve 0.54) (P < 0.002). POSSUM was superior to APACHE II in prediction of mortality in patients admitted to a high-dependency unit after general surgery. Prediction of postoperative complications by POSSUM is accurate and may be useful for audit.
Jones
D R
DR
Department of Surgery, Countess of Chester Hospital, UK.
Copeland
G P
GP
de Cossart
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome