Table 3

Definition of organ dysfunction

Dysfunctional organ system
Criteria

Renal
Urine output ≤ 1 ml/kg per h or serum creatinine ≥ 100 μmol/l
Respiratory
Ventilatory support with inspired oxygen fraction ≥ 0.4 for more than 5 days postoperatively
Hepatic
Aspartate aminotransferase ≥ 500 IU/L or prothrombin time* ≤ 50%
Cardiac
Need for catecholamines >24 h postoperatively
Haematological
Thrombocytes <100,000/μl
Neurological
Seizures or coma

*Patient/control value. Dopamine <5 μg/kg per min excluded.

Trotter et al. Critical Care 2001 5:343   doi:10.1186/cc1067