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Pre-operative risk scores for the prediction of outcome in elderly people who require emergency surgery

Rix, Thomas E., Bates, Tom (2007) Pre-operative risk scores for the prediction of outcome in elderly people who require emergency surgery. World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 2 . p. 16. ISSN 1749-7922. (doi:10.1186/1749-7922-2-16) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:12261)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1749-7922-2-16

Abstract

Background The decision on whether to operate on a sick elderly person with an intra-abdominal emergency is one of the most difficult in general surgery. A predictive risk-score would be of great value in this situation. Methods A Medline search was performed to identify those predictive risk-scores relevant to sick elderly patients in whom emergency surgery might be life-saving. Results Many of the risk scores for surgical patients include the operative findings or require tests which are not available in the acute situation. Most of the relevant studies include younger patients and elective surgery. The Glasgow Aneurysm Score and Hardman Index are specific to ruptured aortic aneurysm while the Boey Score and the Hacetteppe Score are specific to perforated peptic ulcer. The Reiss Index and Fitness Score can be used pre-operatively if the elements of the score can be completed in time. The ASA score, which includes a significant element of subjective clinical judgement, can be augmented with factors such as age and urgency of surgery but no test has a negative predictive value sufficient to recommend against surgical intervention without clinical input. Conclusion Risk scores may be helpful in sick elderly patients needing emergency abdominal surgery but an experienced clinical opinion is still essential.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1186/1749-7922-2-16
Subjects: R Medicine > RD Surgery
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: M.P. Stone
Date Deposited: 04 Aug 2008 14:56 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:50 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/12261 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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