Severity of Postoperative Complications From the Perspective of the Patient

Victoria R Rendell MD; Alexander B Siy BS; Linda M Cherney Stafford MPH; Ryan K Schmocker MD; Glen E Leverson PhD; Emily R Winslow MD, MS, FACS

doi:10.1177/2374373519893199

Journal of Patient Experience (Dec 2020)

Severity of Postoperative Complications From the Perspective of the Patient

Victoria R Rendell MD,
Alexander B Siy BS,
Linda M Cherney Stafford MPH,
Ryan K Schmocker MD,
Glen E Leverson PhD,
Emily R Winslow MD, MS, FACS

Affiliations

Victoria R Rendell MD: Department of Surgery, , Madison, WI, USA. Schmocker is now with the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Winslow is now with the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Washington, DC, USA
Alexander B Siy BS: Department of Surgery, , Madison, WI, USA. Schmocker is now with the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Winslow is now with the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Washington, DC, USA
Linda M Cherney Stafford MPH: Department of Surgery, , Madison, WI, USA. Schmocker is now with the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Winslow is now with the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Washington, DC, USA
Ryan K Schmocker MD: Department of Surgery, , Madison, WI, USA. Schmocker is now with the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Winslow is now with the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Washington, DC, USA
Glen E Leverson PhD: Department of Surgery, , Madison, WI, USA. Schmocker is now with the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Winslow is now with the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Washington, DC, USA
Emily R Winslow MD, MS, FACS: Department of Surgery, , Madison, WI, USA. Schmocker is now with the Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Winslow is now with the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Washington, DC, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373519893199
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7

Abstract

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Background: Although provider-derived surgical complication severity grading systems exist, little is known about the patient perspective. Objective: To assess patient-rated complication severity and determine concordance with existing grading systems. Methods: A survey asked general surgery patients to rate the severity of 21 hypothetical postoperative events representing grades 1 to 5 complications from the Accordion Severity Grading System. Concordance with the Accordion scale was examined. Separately, descriptive ratings of 18 brief postoperative events were ranked. Results: One hundred sixty-eight patients returned a mailed survey following their discharge from a general surgery service. Patients rated grade 4 complications highest. Grade 1 complications were rated similarly to grade 5 and higher than grades 2 and 3 ( P ≤ .01). Patients rated one event not considered an Accordion scale complication higher than all but grade 4 complications ( P < .001). The brief events also did not follow the Accordion scale, other than the grade 6 complication ranking highest. Conclusion: Patient-rated complication severity is discordant with provider-derived grading systems, suggesting the need to explore important differences between patient and provider perspectives.

Published in Journal of Patient Experience

ISSN: 2374-3735 (Print); 2374-3743 (Online)
Publisher: SAGE Publishing
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jpx

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