Methodology for a study of structured co-management of high-risk postoperative patients in a teaching hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing major surgery often suffer postoperative complications, and in many cases these are related to medical comorbidity. OBJECTIVES: To develop a structured approach for referral, postoperative management and surgeon communication for high-risk surgical patients based on medical co-management using a Post-Operative Surveillance Team (POST). DESIGN, SETTINGS, PARTICIPANTS: Pilot study involving (i) a literature review to identify risk factors for postoperative complications; (ii) assessment of Medical Emergency Team (MET) call rates on surgical wards; (iii) development of a potential target surgical cohort from hospital electronic databases; (iv) formulation of chec..