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Predicting surgical outcomes
For many scheduled surgeries, the risk of complications like wound infection, ileus, or anastomotic leaks, are significant, expensive, and debilitating for patients. What can we do to better predict and prevent common surgical complications for our patient populations?
75 months ago
2 answers
In one study, the Minnisota - MMPI test was better able to predict complications of a standard orthopedic procedure than the surgeons. What this means, is that if the patient is better prepared with less stress, anxiety, apprehension, etc there will be less complication. For instance, in my practice, I discuss the surgery. "Do you have any questions?" Then a "nurse" spends 1/2 hour to discuss the surgery. Do you have any Questions?
When she goes to check out, make an appointment, the clerk asks her if she has any questions. All conversation is directed to allay fear, apprehension, anxiety.
On the other hand, if I feel the patient has unreasonable anxiety or stress, or unreasonable expectation, I defer the procedure.
75 months ago
The American College of Surgeons' NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator leverages thousands of data points in the NSQIP database to predict complication risks in patients undergoing similar procedures as to those in the database. Enter a CPT code, patient factors, and predictive output results for multiple complications, including readmission. It is publicly available.
https://riskcalculator.facs.org/RiskCalculator/
75 months ago
