Surgical Apgar Score Predicted Postoperative Morbidity After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Background

Recently, a simple and easy complication prediction system, the Surgical Apgar Sore (SAS) calculated by three intraoperative parameters (estimated blood loss, lowest mean arterial pressure, and lowest heart rate), has been proposed for general surgery. This study aimed to determine if the SAS could accurately predict perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Methods

We investigated 399 patients who underwent esophagectomy at the Kumamoto University Hospital between April 2007 and March 2015. Clinical data, including intraoperative parameters, were collected retrospectively. Patients had postoperative morbidities classified as Clavien–Dindo grade III or more. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to elucidate factors that affected the development of complications.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 65.7 years, 357 patients (89.5 %) were male. The frequency of any morbidity was 32.3 %. Univariate analyses showed that the SAS as well as preoperative chemotherapy, volume of bleeding, and reconstruction of organs were associated with morbidities. Multivariate analysis showed that a SAS < 5 was found to be an independent risk factor for morbidities.

Conclusion

The SAS is considered to be useful for predicting the development of postoperative morbidities after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.