A casemix of patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Med J Aust · 1992

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To construct a casemix for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study. Wound infection was chosen as the target adverse event. A cluster analysis identified seven risk factors, which were then incorporated into a Boolean cluster (the casemix). SETTING: Royal Perth Hospital. PATIENTS: 1238 adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Wound infection, recurrent intraperitoneal sepsis, hospital stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and death. RESULTS: Measures of the severity of illness and the extent of co-morbidity were more important in determining the risk of a poor outcome than was the identity of the diseased organ. CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of severity of illness and extent of co-morbidity should be included in any casemix based system for patients undergoing abdominal surgery.