A casemix of patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To construct a casemix for patients undergoing abdominal surgery.


METHODS
A prospective longitudinal study. Wound infection was chosen as the target adverse event. A cluster analysis identified seven risk factors, which were then incorporated into a Boolean cluster (the casemix).


METHODS
Royal Perth Hospital.


METHODS
1238 adults.


METHODS
Wound infection, recurrent intraperitoneal sepsis, hospital stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and death.


RESULTS
Measures of the severity of illness and the extent of co-morbidity were more important in determining the risk of a poor outcome than was the identity of the diseased organ.


CONCLUSIONS
Estimates of severity of illness and extent of co-morbidity should be included in any casemix based system for patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
Hall
J C
JC
University Department of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, WA.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D003422:Critical Care; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections; D007902:Length of Stay; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014904:Western Australia