Early determinants of death due to multiple organ failure after noncardiac surgery in high-risk patients.
BACKGROUND
Prediction of perioperative cardiac complications is important in the medical management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, these patients frequently die as a consequence of primary or secondary multiple organ failure (MOF), often as a result of sepsis. We investigated the early perioperative risk factors for in-hospital death due to MOF in surgical patients.


METHODS
This was a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study performed in 21 Brazilian intensive care units (ICUs). Adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery who were admitted to the ICU within 24 hours after operation were evaluated. MOF was characterized by the presence of at least 2 organ failures. To determine the relative risk (RR) of in-hospital death due to MOF, we performed a logistic regression multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
A total of 587 patients were included (mean age, 62.4 ± 17 years). ICU and hospital mortality rates were 15% and 20.6%, respectively. The main cause of death was MOF (53%). Peritonitis (RR 4.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-12.6), diabetes (RR 3.63, 95% CI 1.17-11.2), unplanned surgery (RR 3.62, 95% CI 1.18-11.0), age (RR 1.04, 95% CI 1 0.01-1.08), and elevated serum lactate concentrations (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.14-2.02), a high central venous pressure (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.22), a fast heart rate (RR 3.63, 95% CI 1.17-11.2) and pH (RR 0.04, 95% CI 0.0005-0.38) on the day of admission were independent predictors of death due to MOF.


CONCLUSIONS
MOF is the main cause of death after surgery in high-risk patients. Awareness of the risk factors for death due to MOF may be important in risk stratification and can suggest routes for therapy.
Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Serviço de Terapia Intensiva do Hospital de Base e Laboratório de Sepse, Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5544 CEP 15090-000 São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. suzanalobo@yahoo.com
Suzana M
SM
Lobo
Ederlon
E
Rezende
Marcos F
MF
Knibel
Nilton B
NB
Silva
José A
JA
Páramo
Flávio E
FE
Nácul
Ciro L
CL
Mendes
Murilo
M
Assunção
Rubens C
RC
Costa
Cíntia C
CC
Grion
Sérgio F
SF
Pinto
Patricia M
PM
Mello
Marcelo O
MO
Maia
Péricles A
PA
Duarte
Fernando
F
Gutierrez
João M
JM
Silva
Marcel R
MR
Lopes
José A
JA
Cordeiro
Charles
C
Mellot
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors