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Table 3 Perception of the severity of post-operative complications

From: Perception of surgical complications among patients, nurses and physicians: a prospective cross-sectional survey

Complication Treatment Grade Median Interquartile range
Hypopotassemia oral substitution of potassium I 10 5-17.5
Oedema diuretics I 15 10-25
Dystelectasis breath-physiotherapy I 20 10-30
Postoperative nausea and vomiting antiemetics I 20 10-30
Wound infection wound opened at the bedside, secondary wound healing I 30 20-40
Local infection antibiotics II 35 25-50
Arrhythmia medical treatment (e.g. beta-blockers) II 40 30-55
Subileus gastric tube, procinetics, antiemetics II 45 30-60
Gastroparesis gastric tube, procinetics, antiemetics II 45 30-60
Upper GI-bleeding due to ulcer medical treatment (e.g. PPI), blood substitution II 50 35-60
Wound infection wound closure in local anesthesia IIIa 40 30-50
Pneumothorax thoracic drain in local anesthesia IIIa 50 40-60
Upper GI-bleeding due to ulcer gastroscopy with local treatment of the ulcer bleeding, medical treatment (e.g. PPI), blood substitution IIIa 50 40-65
Intra-abdominal abscess drainage IIIa 57.5 40-70
Deep venous thrombosis lyses IIIa 60 50-70
Wound infection wound closure in full anesthesia IIIb 40 30-55
Post-operative acute bleeding blood substitution, surgical revision IIIb 70 60-80
Infected bilioma surgical revision IIIb 70 60-80
Anastomotic insufficiency surgical revision, re-anastomoses IIIb 70 60-80
Mechanical ileus surgical remove of adhesions IIIb 70 55-80
Delirium medicaments, intubation IVa 80 70-90
Lung emboli anticoagulation, intubation IVa 80 70-90
Acute liver failure medical substitution, ICU support IVa 85 75-90
Acute renal failure hemofiltration, ICU support IVa 85 75-90
Anastomotic insufficiency antibiotics, surgical revision, hemodynamic stabilization on the ICU IVa 90 80-97.5
Low output syndrome hemodynamic stabilization, hemofiltration IVb 90 80-100
Post-operative acute bleeding blood substitution, surgical revision, hemodynamic stabilization, hemofiltration IVb 90 80-100
Colon ischemia antibiotics, colon resection, hemodynamic stabilization, hemofiltration IVb 95 90-100
ARDS intubation, hemodynamic stabilization IVb 95 85.6-100
Anastomotic insufficiency antibiotics surgical revision, hemodynamic stabilization, hemofiltration IVb 95 90-100
  1. Local infection was defined e.g. as central venous infection; PPI = proton-pump-inhibition treatment; ARDS = Acute respiratory distress syndrome
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Patient Safety in Surgery

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