title: [Mortality during admission in a surgical department].
abstract: A review of patient charts in 322 in-hospital deaths in one surgical unit from July 1 2010 to June 31 2011. Overall mortality was 2.9%, with terminal cancer patients, patients unsolvable at admission and patients declining treatment comprising 35.7% of patients dying. Most fatalities (169/53%) were after acute admission (median age 78 years, 61%, ASA score > 2). Stratification of in-hospital mortality in surgical patients is feasible and meaningful. A measurable reduction in surgical mortality is probably only possible in the group of patients with acute admissions.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenheden, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre. morten.bay-nielsen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bay-Nielsen
authors.forename: Svend
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulze
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002423:Cause of Death; D003645:Death, Sudden; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D010343:Patient Admission; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital