Published online Feb 4, 2017. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v6.i1.48
Peer-review started: August 23, 2016
First decision: September 28, 2016
Revised: November 14, 2016
Accepted: December 7, 2016
Article in press: December 9, 2016
Published online: February 4, 2017
Processing time: 155 Days and 20.6 Hours
To identify the risk factors for mortality in intensive care patients with postoperative peritonitis (POP).
This was a retrospective analysis using a prospective database that includes all patients hospitalized in a surgical intensive care unit for POP from September 2006 to August 2011. The data collected included demographics, comorbidities, postoperative severity parameters, bacteriological findings, adequacy of antimicrobial therapy and surgical treatments. Adequate source control was defined based on a midline laparotomy, infection source control and intraoperative peritoneal lavage. The number of reoperations needed was also recorded.
A total of 201 patients were included. The overall mortality rate was 31%. Three independent risk factors for mortality were identified: The Simplified Acute Physiological II Score (OR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.02-1.05, P < 0.001), postoperative medical complications (OR = 6.02; 95%CI: 1.95-18.55, P < 0.001) and the number of reoperations (OR = 2.45; 95%CI: 1.16-5.17, P = 0.015). Surgery was considered as optimal in 69% of the cases, but without any significant effect on mortality.
The results from the large cohort in this study emphasize the role of the initial postoperative severity parameters in the prognosis of POP. No predefined criteria for optimal surgery were significantly associated with increased mortality, although the number of reoperations appeared as an independent risk factor of mortality.
Core tip: This retrospective study performed from a prospective data base analysed the risk factor for mortality in 201 patients admitted for postoperative peritonitis (POP) in a surgical intensive care unit. Three independent risk factors for mortality were identified: The Simplified Acute Physiological II Score, postoperative medical complications and the number of reoperations. This study emphasizes the role of the initial postoperative severity parameters in the prognosis of POP. No predefined criteria for optimal surgery were significantly associated with increased mortality, although the number of reoperations appeared as an independent risk factor of mortality.