Table 1

Clinical criteria for high-risk surgical patients [38]

1

Severe cardiac or respiratory illness resulting in severe functional limitation

2

Extensive surgery planned for carcinoma involving bowel anastamosis

3

Acute massive blood loss (>2.5 litres)

4

Aged over 70 years with moderate functional limitation of one or more organ systems

5

Septicaemia (positive blood cultures or septic focus)

6

Respiratory failure (PaO₂ <8 kPa on FiO₂ >0.4, that is, PaO₂:FiO₂ ratio <20 kPa or ventilation >48 hours)

7

Acute abdominal catastrophe (for example, pancreatitis, perforated viscous, gastro-intestinal bleed)

8

Acute renal failure (urea >20 mmol l^-1, creatinine >260 μmol l^-1)

9

Surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm fractional inspired

PaO₂, arterial partial pressure of oxygen; FiO₂; concentration of oxygen.

Lees et al. Critical Care 2009 13:231   doi:10.1186/cc8039