OBJECTIVE: When a new scoring system, 'E-PASS', standing for the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress that predicts the postoperative surgical risk by quantification of the patient's reserve and surgical stress applied to a population of general thoracic surgery patients, it should be investigated if this system could help us or not. METHODS: The comprehensive risk score (CRS) of the E-PASS and the clinical course were evaluated retrospectively in 282 consecutive patients with primary lung cancer (group A), and in 458 patients who underwent elective thoracic operations (group B). RESULTS: The morbidity and mortality rates in both group A and group B increased as the CRS increased. The CRS correlated significantly with the morbidity score, length of stay and cost of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: E-PASS scoring system may be useful in surgical decision-making and evaluating quality of care in patients who are tolerable for lung resection. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
OBJECTIVE: When a new scoring system, 'E-PASS', standing for the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress that predicts the postoperative surgical risk by quantification of the patient's reserve and surgical stress applied to a population of general thoracic surgery patients, it should be investigated if this system could help us or not. METHODS: The comprehensive risk score (CRS) of the E-PASS and the clinical course were evaluated retrospectively in 282 consecutive patients with primary lung cancer (group A), and in 458 patients who underwent elective thoracic operations (group B). RESULTS: The morbidity and mortality rates in both group A and group B increased as the CRS increased. The CRS correlated significantly with the morbidity score, length of stay and cost of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: E-PASS scoring system may be useful in surgical decision-making and evaluating quality of care in patients who are tolerable for lung resection. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel