Table 4

Postoperative complications

Complication

Group

C (n = 16)

I (n = 17)

Infection

Pneumonia

5

2

Abdominal

4

3

Urinary tract

1

0

Respiratory

Pulmonary embolism

1

0

Respiratory support > 24 h (exclusive of acute lung injury)

6

5

Acute lung injury

5

1

Cardiovascular

Arrhythmia^a

6

3

Hypotension^a

11

3

Acute pulmonary edema

2

0

Cardiac arrest (exclusive of fatal outcome)

1

0

Abdominal

Acute bowel obstruction

1

0

Upper gastrointestinal bleed

2

1

Anastomotic leak

1

0

Coagulopathy

Platelet count <100,000/μl^b or prothrombin time < 50%^c

6

4

Renal

Urine output < 500 ml/day or serum creatinine > 170 μmol/l^d or dialysis for acute renal failure

11

1

Total number of complications

63

23

Number (percentage) of patients with complications

12 (75)

7 (41)

C, control; I, intervention. ^aRequiring pharmacologic treatment; ^bif at least 150,000/μl preoperatively; ^cif at least 70% preoperatively; ^dif 130 μmol/l or less preoperatively.

Lopes et al. Critical Care 2007 11:R100   doi:10.1186/cc6117