ACS NSQIP Risk Calculator for Complications After Thoracic Surgery

Advances in medical and surgical therapies have enabled treatment for polymorbid patients, who often have multiple chronic conditions. This has increased the need to accurately assess the risks of postoperative complications and mortality. Due to their complex health status, these patients are more susceptible to adverse outcomes following surgery, necessitating precise risk prediction to guide clinical decision-making and optimize outcomes. This single-center retrospective research project compares the preoperative risk assessments by the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS NSQIP) risk calculator with actual complications (graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification) observed in patients who underwent thoracic surgery at the University Hospital Basel between May 1, 2021, and March 1, 2022. The ACS NSQIP risk calculator, a web-based tool, uses 21 preoperative risk factors to predict 13 perioperative outcomes, including serious complications, infections, and mortality. By evaluating these predictions against real patient outcomes, this research project aims to validate the calculator's accuracy specifically in the context of thoracic surgery. The results of this research project could optimize patient care by better identifying high-risk patients and improving preoperative preparation.