What does this research mean for the field?

When used correctly, the POSSUM scoring system is a valid tool for comparing surgical outcomes between surgeons and hospitals, although specialist surgeries may require procedure-specific regression equations. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To review the development, analytical methodology, and clinical utility of the POSSUM scoring system in assessing surgical morbidity and mortality across modern practice.

January 28, 2003British journal of surgeryOpen Access

The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM)

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Why the study?

Is the POSSUM scoring system valuable for risk analysis and case-mix comparison in modern surgical practice?

Population

Surgical patients (general and specialist surgery)

Design

Systematic_review

Authors

WNW.D. NearyDerriford Hospital BHB P HeatherCheltenham General Hospital JEJ J EarnshawGloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Supports POSSUM for fair surgical outcome comparisons; reinforces its audit utility while requiring specialty-specific equations.

Key Points

To review the development, analytical methodology, and clinical utility of the POSSUM scoring system in assessing surgical morbidity and mortality across modern practice.
Searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Embase for literature published over a 12-year period.
Manually cross-referenced relevant articles addressing risk analysis, case-mix comparison, and POSSUM methodology.
POSSUM provides valid comparative assessments of surgical outcomes between individual practitioners and hospitals when analytical and data collection protocols are correctly applied.
Specialist surgical disciplines may require procedure-specific regression equations to maintain predictive accuracy across distinct operative mixes.

Structured PICO

Is the POSSUM scoring system valuable for risk analysis and case-mix comparison in modern surgical practice?

Population

Surgical patients (general and specialist surgery)

Intervention

Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM)

Outcome

Mortality and morbidity risk analysis and case-mix comparison

POSSUM is a useful tool for comparing surgical outcomes and case-mix, provided it is used correctly and adapted for specialist procedures.

Limitations

Problems with data collection and analysis

Cite This Study

Neary et al. (2003) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1bc8e5ea84844e355ef473 https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.4041

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The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM)

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM)

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider