Does the occurrence of a 30-day postoperative complication determine long-term survival after major surgery more than preoperative and intraoperative factors?
Postoperative complications within 30 days are the primary determinant of long-term survival after major surgery, highlighting the critical need for complication prevention.
The occurrence of a 30-day postoperative complication is more important than preoperative patient risk and intraoperative factors in determining the survival after major surgery in the VA. Quality and process improvement in surgery should be directed toward the prevention of postoperative complications.
Khuri et al. (2005) studied this question.