Methodology reduces postop mortality using VASQIP risk calculator

Editor's Note

This study validates a methodology, using the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) risk calculator, to identify patients with a high risk of 30-day mortality after elective surgery who may benefit from referral for tertiary care.

The methodology predicted that 16% (90 of 565) of patients would require referral, and 30-day mortality would be reduced by 73% at the referring institution.

Of the 90 patients, 60 consented to referral. In these, there were 16 predicted mortalities, but only 4 actual deaths at the receiving institution.

This methodology can help guide decisions on referrals and optimize patient care, the authors say.

To identify patients with a high risk of 30-day mortality after elective surgery, who may benefit from referral for tertiary care, an institution-specific process using the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) Risk Calculator was developed. The goal was to develop and validate the methodology. Our hypothesis was that the process could optimize referrals and reduce mortality.