• Jesús Gil-Bona, Antoni Sabaté, Albert Pi, Romà Adroer, and Eduardo Jaurrieta.
• Servicio de Anestesiología Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
• Cir Esp. 2009 Apr 1; 85 (4): 229-37.

ObjectiveTo determine mortality risk factors in surgical patients.Material And MethodA cross-sectional study was carried out on all surgical patients who died while in hospital, over a period of three years (2004-2006). Pre, intra and postoperative variables were analysed. Comparisons were made between patients operated on as emergencies and elective surgery patients. Multivariate analysis was performed on the pre, intra and postoperative variables, using chi(2) of Pearson correlation with a confidence interval of 95%.ResultsSurgery was performed on a total of 38 815 patients, of which 6 326 were emergency procedures and 32 489 as elective. There were 479 deaths registered: 36 occurred in the operating theatre and 443 died after the operation. Arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cancer were significant causes of death. Intraoperative complications were associated with mortality during the surgical procedure. Emergency surgery was an independent risk factor (mortality, 5.5% vs. 0.4% for elective surgery). Sepsis, cardiac and respiratory related deaths were the main risk factors for postoperative death.ConclusionsPrevention and adequate treatment of perioperative risk factors should significantly reduce morbidity and mortality rates, mainly in those patient operated as emergencies.

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