A Clinical Study on Fatal Cases within 30 Days Following Surgery

Lim, Choon Hak; Lim, Hye Ja; Lee, Hae Weon; Chae, Byung Kook; Kim, Nan Sook; Chang, Sung Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate postoperative mortality within 30 days following surgery.
METHODS
The records of 31,806 patients who received operation under general anesthesia were reviewed.
RESULTS
1) Postoperative deaths were 184 cases, the ratio of which was comprising 0.57% of all surgical operative cases. 2) The highest ratio of the mortality in age group was 51~60 years group which was 24.5%, and in physical status it was ASA class III which was 36.4%. The highest ratio to the mortality rate in postoperative days was 8~30 days which was 45.1%. 3) The most common causes of death was low cardiac output due to heart failure on operating theater, and hypovolemic shock within postoperative 2 days, and intracranial problem within postoperative 7 days, and pulmonary complication within postoperative 30 days.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that fatality rate could be decreased by intensive and multidisciplinary care for postoperaive complications as respiratory and renal failure.