Table 1

Demographic and biochemical data for patients with and without post-operative morbidity

Data class
Complications (n = 64)
No complications (n = 53)
p

Demographic



     Age (years)
67.0 ± 12.3
66.7 ± 10.4
0.89
     Blood loss (ml)
1,200 (520–2,000)
1,000 (725–2,350)
0.88
     GDT
27/64 (42%)
35/53 (66%)
0.02*
     APACHE II score
9.9 ± 4.3
9.0 ± 3.8
0.28
     P-POSSUM score
40.1 ± 8.1
36.8 ± 6.8
0.02*
     ASA score
3 (2–3)
3 (2–3)
0.61
Biochemical



     Baseline base excess (mmol l-1)
-2.62 ± 3.03
-2.40 ± 3.31
0.71
     Lowest base excess (mmol l-1)
-3.67 ± 3.04
-4.30 ± 3.17
0.29
     Base excess, 8-hour mean (mmol l-1)
-2.73 ± 3.83
-2.31 ± 3.15
0.44
     Baseline lactate (mmol l-1)
1.49 ± 0.81
1.38 ± 0.74
0.43
     Highest lactate (mmol l-1)
1.93 ± 1.30
1.80 ± 0.88
0.55
     Lactate, 8-hour mean (mmol l-1)
1.29 ± 0.81
1.23 ± 0.55
0.65

*Statistically significant difference. Data are presented as means ± SD, medians (interquartile range) or absolute values (%). APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; GDT, patients receiving goal-directed therapy; P-POSSUM, Portsmouth Physiologic and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity

Pearse et al. Critical Care 2005 9:R694   doi:10.1186/cc3888