Association between formal preoperative risk assessment and postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND

This study compares complication rates between patients who had and did not have the Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System (SURPAS) used preoperatively.

METHODS

This was a multi-center propensity-matched study, 2017-2024. 1:1 Greedy matching was used to match patients who had and did not have SURPAS used. After matching, rates of 11 postoperative complications were estimated and compared using the Automated Surveillance of Postoperative Infections and Non-Infections (ASPIN) system and compared.

RESULTS

Of 457,117 patients, 22,875 (5.00%) had SURPAS. The SURPAS cohort was older, had more ASA class 3-4 patients, fewer with emergent surgery, and more with 2+ comorbidities. After matching, the SURPAS cohort had lower mortality (0.71% vs. 1.02%, p = 0.001), cardiac (0.34% vs. 0.49%, p < 0.001), and renal (0.28% vs. 0.34%, p = 0.013) complications, but more VTEs (1.46% vs. 1.19%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SURPAS may identify high-risk patients leading to modifications of care associated with reduced mortality, cardiac, and renal complications.