Complications and consequences: short-term harm has long-term impact

Abstract

Summary: In this editorial, we discuss a large observational study demonstrating increased healthcare usage and higher mortality over 2 yr in patients who experienced specific postoperative complications. These findings are in keeping with the existing literature and draw into focus the need for ongoing work to understand and communicate these long-term consequences to patients.

Keywords

• healthcare utilisation
• long-term
• morbidity
• perioperative complications
• postoperative complications
• shared-decision making