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