World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2007
Accuracy of the surgeons' clinical prediction of perioperative complications using a visual analog scale.
The ability to predict who will develop perioperative complications remains difficult because the etiology of adverse events is multifactorial. This study examines the preoperative and postoperative ability of the surgeon to predict complications and assesses the significance of a change in prediction. ⋯ Clinical assessment of risk by the surgeon using a VAS score independently improves the prediction of perioperative complications. Including the unique contribution of the surgeon's clinical assessment should be considered in models designed to predict the risk of surgery.