title: Application of a novel severity grading system for surgical complications after colorectal resection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uniform and accurate reporting of surgical complications is the basis for quality control. We developed a computerized system for reporting and grading surgical complications in colorectal surgery. This study was conducted to evaluate this computerized reporting system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted of all surgical complications in patients who underwent resection of the colon or rectum at our institution between the years 1999 and 2004 (n = 408). All complications were recorded using the computerized reporting system and compared with complications reported in the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elective operations were performed in 75.7% of patients, and 24.3% required emergency operations. Of the 408 patients in the study, 239 (58.6%) had an uneventful recovery without complications. At least 1 complication was recorded in 169 (41.4%) patients. Grades 1 and 2 complications were recorded in 83 (20.3%) and 105 (25.7%) patients, respectively, requiring observation or medical treatment only, and 59 patients (14.5%) had grades 3 to 5 complications. The three leading complications were surgical site infection, intraabdominal abscess, and hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. The grades 3 to 5 complication rate was within the range described in the literature, and the rate of grades 1 and 2 complications was substantially higher. These grades 1 and 2 complications were associated with a substantially longer hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel complication reporting system was found feasible and proved to have a higher sensitivity for recording minor but meaningful complications that tend to prolong hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Haggi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mazeh
authors.forename: Yacov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Samet
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abu-Wasel
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beglaibter
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grinbaum
authors.forename: Tzeela
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamburger
authors.forename: Herbert R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Freund
authors.forename: Aviram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissan