title: Self-Reported, Structured Measures of Recovery to Detect Postoperative Morbidity.
abstract: Previous studies have focused on postoperative anaesthetic visit as a tool for measuring postoperative recovery or patient's satisfaction. Whether it could also improve timely recognition of complications has not been studied yet. Aim of our study was to assess pathological findings in physical examination requiring further intervention during postoperative visit and to explore whether a self-administered version of the Quality of Recovery (QoR)-9 score, compared to a detailed medical history, can act as a screening tool for identification of patients who show a low risk to develop postoperative complications. This observational study included 918 patients recovering from various types of non-cardiac surgery and anaesthesia. The postoperative visit implied three steps: measuring the QoR-9 score, a structured medical history and a physical examination. QoR-9-score showed a comparable negative predictive value (0.93 vs. 0.92) and a higher sensitivity of finding at least one pathological examination than a detailed medical history (0.92 vs. 0.81 respectively). At least one postoperative pathological examination finding was observed in 23.7% of the patients. Our approach presents a strategy on screening postoperative patients in order to identify patients whose examination and consequent treatment should be intensified. In further studies the question could be addressed whether the postoperative visit may help to reduce complications and mortality after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anetsberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blobner
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krautheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umgelter
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jungwirth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires