Predicting infectious morbidity in elective operations.

The determination of surgical risk is a major problem in general surgical practice and many studies have attempted to predict postoperative outcome. Clinical judgment is still a fundamental skill with which the experienced surgeon can estimate the risk of postoperative infectious morbidity. Predictive scores based on statistical analysis have also proven to be valid and useful tools. This discussion analyzes the importance of surgical risk prediction. With future research in this area, it is hoped that therapeutic strategies will result that will reduce or eliminate this risk.