Postoperative hypotension: a complex but modifiable target to improve perioperative care after noncardiac surgery.

Abstract

Intraoperative hypotension is a frequent occurrence during surgery and has been plausibly, but not universally, associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Although postoperative hypotension can have a greater impact on patient outcomes, it remains less studied. The SQUEEZE study, a large international prospective cohort including more than 25 000 patients from 42 countries, examined vasopressor infusion use as a marker of clinically significant postoperative hypotension. The overall incidence of vasopressor infusion use was 3.9% but varied widely between countries. Patients who received vasopressor infusion experienced higher complication rates, prolonged hospital stays, and higher in-hospital mortality. Despite the study's strengths, it also underscores significant remaining knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to understand and improve clinical management of a common problem.