Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Emergency and postoperative access to critical and enhanced care: a multicentre prospective observational study*
Authors' conclusion
There is poor compliance with national guidance regarding the postoperative care location of patients with a moderate or high risk of postoperative mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Adult inpatients having a procedure under the care of an anaesthetist (excluding cardiac and obstetric), 19 acute hospital sites, South West Critical Care Networkof 2222 eligible
- Participants
- 1,728 inpatients
- Exposure
- Low risk vs Moderate risk vs High risk
- Low riskn = 1,060
- Moderate riskn = 418
- High riskn = 250
- Outcome
- Proportion of patients with moderate or high predicted risk of 30-day postoperative mortality and their postoperative care location
Methodological detailsmulticentre, 7-day
- Multicentre
- 7-day
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Predicted risk of postoperative mortality and postoperative care location
| Group | Value | Received enhanced or critical care | Received critical care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low risk | 61% | ||
| Moderate risk | 24% | 72/418 (17%) | |
| High risk | 15% | 64/249 (26%) |
Value
Low risk61%
Moderate risk24%
High risk15%
Received enhanced or critical care
Low risk— not stated in the abstract
Moderate risk72/418 (17%)
High risk— not stated in the abstract
Received critical care
Low risk— not stated in the abstract
Moderate risk— not stated in the abstract
High risk64/249 (26%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Referred patients admitted to critical care
- 263/680 (39%)
- Occasions on which referrals exceeded available level 3-equivalent beds
- 79%
Original publication
Emergency and postoperative access to critical and enhanced care: a multicentre prospective observational study*. Anaesthesia. Published 8 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →