1
|
Wells CI, Bhat S, Xu W, Varghese C, Keane C, Baraza W, O'Grady G, Harmston C, Bissett IP. Variation in the definition of 'failure to rescue' from postoperative complications: a systematic review and recommendations for outcome reporting. Surgery 2024; 175:1103-1110. [PMID: 38245447 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Failure to rescue is the rate of death amongst patients with postoperative complications and has been proposed as a perioperative quality indicator. However, variation in its definition has limited comparisons between studies. We systematically reviewed all surgical literature reporting failure to rescue rates and examined variations in the definition of the 'numerator,' 'denominator,' and timing of failure to rescue measurement. METHODS Databases were searched from inception to 31 December 2022. All studies reporting postoperative failure to rescue rates as a primary or secondary outcome were included. We examined the complications included in the failure to rescue denominator, the percentage of deaths captured by the failure to rescue numerator, and the timing of measurement for complications and mortality. RESULTS A total of 359 studies, including 212,048,069 patients, were analyzed. The complications included in the failure to rescue denominator were reported in 295 studies (82%), with 131 different complications used. The median number of included complications per study was 10 (interquartile range 8-15). Studies that included a higher number of complications in the failure-to-rescue denominator reported lower failure-to-rescue rates. Death was included as a complication in the failure to rescue the denominator in 65 studies (18%). The median percentage of deaths captured by the failure to rescue calculation when deaths were not included in the denominator was 79%. Complications (52%) and mortality (40%) were mostly measured in-hospital, followed by 30-days after surgery. CONCLUSION Failure to rescue is an important concept in the study of postoperative outcomes, although its definition is highly variable and poorly reported. Researchers should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to defining failure to rescue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron I Wells
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Sameer Bhat
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora MidCentral, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - William Xu
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, Whangārei, New Zealand
| | - Chris Varghese
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of General Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Celia Keane
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, Whangārei, New Zealand
| | - Wal Baraza
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Greg O'Grady
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Chris Harmston
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, Whangārei, New Zealand
| | - Ian P Bissett
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Surgery, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|