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Risk prediction tools for older general surgical patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2015

M Middleton ,
MJ Stechman ,
S Moug ,
K McCarthy  and
J Hewitt
M Middleton
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
MJ Stechman
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
S Moug
Affiliation:
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, UK
K McCarthy
Affiliation:
Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
J Hewitt*
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Jonathan Hewitt, Department of Geriatric Medicine, 3rd Floor Academic Centre, Llandough Hospital, Penlan Road, Penarth CF64 2XX. Email: HewittJ2@cardiff.ac.uk
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Summary

This review identifies and examines the clinical application of risk prediction tools, including the American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) Classification System and POSSUM-based scores, in the older general surgical patient. Predicting outcomes in this patient group remains difficult; it is challenging to design a risk prediction tool that will apply to both emergency and elective surgery and that remains valid across the wide age range that this patient group encompasses. Risk prediction tools can have benefit but should be used in conjunction with the clinical assessment of those experienced in the care of this challenging patient group.

Keywords

risk predictionolder patientssurgeryemergency

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 12 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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