title: [Postoperative complications--what is often? What is rare?].
abstract: The postoperative course after major (elective) digestive surgical procedures was prospectively analysed in 5693 patients. Postoperative complications were documented in 553 patients (9.7%). There were general complications (not related to surgery) in 97 patients (17.5%) and surgical complications (related to surgery) in 456 patients (82.5%). The most frequent surgical complication was abdominal sepsis in 72.1% followed by postoperative bleeding (17.1%) and others (10.7%). The leading cause for abdominal sepsis was anastomotic leakage in 207 patients (70.2%). Bedside diagnostic procedures like sonography, analysis of fluid drainage and endoscopy could identify the underlying problem of abdominal sepsis in 60.9% of cases. The mortality rate of all studied patients was (113/5693 patients) 1.9%.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 München.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bartels
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk