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Late postoperative complications in surgical patients: an integrative review

Complicaciones postoperatorias tardías en pacientes quirúrgicos: revisión integradora

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to identify the main complications in the late postoperative period of surgical patients.

Method:

an integrative review from the CINAHL, LILACS, Science direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Europe PMC, and MEDLINE databases. Descriptors and keywords were combined without language or time restriction.

Results:

ten primary studies were included. Infectious complications were the most common, especially surgical site infection, pneumonia and urinary tract infection. The presence of complications was linked to increased mortality, need for reoperations and worse survival. Few studies report on monitoring frequency, follow-up time and/or when complications started to be observed.

Conclusion:

infectious complications were the most prevalent postoperatively. The scarcity of guidelines that guide the monitoring of complications regarding monitoring frequency, follow-up time and classification makes it difficult to establish an overview of them and consequently propose intervention strategies.

Descriptors:
Operative Surgical Procedures; Complications; Postoperative Complications; Epidemiological Monitoring; Infections

RESUMEN

Objetivo:

identificar las principales complicaciones que ocurren en el postoperatorio tardío de los pacientes quirúrgicos.

Método:

revisión integradora de CINAHL, LILACS, Science Direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Europe PMC y MEDLINE. Descriptores y palabras clave fueron combinadas sin restricción de idioma o tiempo.

Resultados:

se incluyeron diez estudios primarios. Las complicaciones infecciosas fueron las más comunes, especialmente la infección del sitio quirúrgico, la neumonía y la infección del tracto urinario. La presencia de complicaciones se relacionó con un aumento de la mortalidad, la necesidad de reoperaciones y una peor supervivencia. Pocos estudios informan sobre la frecuencia de monitoreo, el tiempo de seguimiento y/o cuándo comenzaron a observarse complicaciones.

Conclusión:

las complicaciones infecciosas fueron las más frecuentes después de la operación. La escasez de pautas que guían la vigilancia de las complicaciones con respecto a la frecuencia de monitoreo, el tiempo de seguimiento y la clasificación hace que sea difícil establecer una visión general de las mismas y, en consecuencia, proponer estrategias de intervención,

Descriptores:
Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Quirúrgicos; Complicaciones; Complicaciones Postoperatorias; Monitoreo Epidemiológica; Infecciones

RESUMO

Objetivo:

identificar as principais complicações ocorridas no pós-operatório tardio de pacientes cirúrgicos.

Método:

revisão integrativa a partir das bases CINAHL, LILACS, Science Direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Europe PMC e MEDLINE. Combinaram-se descritores e palavras-chave, sem restrição de idioma ou tempo.

Resultados:

dez estudos primários foram incluídos. As complicações infecciosas foram as mais comuns, com destaque para infecção do sitio cirúrgico, pneumonia e infecção urinária. A presença de complicações esteve ligada ao aumento na mortalidade, necessidade de reoperações e pior sobrevida. Poucos estudos relatam a frequência de monitoramento, tempo de seguimento e/ou quando as complicações começaram a serem observadas.

Conclusão:

as complicações infecciosas foram as mais prevalentes no pós-operatório. A escassez de diretrizes que guiem a vigilância das complicações no que concerne a frequência de monitoramento, tempo de seguimento e classificação dificulta estabelecer um panorama das mesmas e consequentemente propor estratégias de intervenção.

Descritores:
Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Operatórios; Complicações; Complicações Pós-Operatórias; Vigilância Epidemiológica; Infecções

INTRODUCTION

Clinical complications after hospital discharge indicates a significant change in the surgical patient’s recovery, increasing the risk of reoperation, length of stay, decreased bed arrangement and increased mortality(11 Saunders RS, Fernandes-Taylor S, Rathouz PJ, Saha S, Wiseman JT, Havlena J, et al. Outpatient followup versus 30-day readmission among general and vascular surgery patients: a case for redesigning transitional care. Surgery. 2014;156(4):949-58. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2014.06.041
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2014.06.0...
).

There is no consensus on the actual incidence of postoperative complications, although rates are estimated at 5.8% to 43.5% in the first 30 days(22 Siqueira EMP, Diccini S. Postoperative complications in elective and non-elective neurosurgery. Acta Paul Enferm. 2017;30(1):101-8. doi: 10.1590/1982-0194201700015
https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-01942017000...

3 Bastos AS, Beccaria LM, Barbosa TP, Werneck AL, Silva EV. Complications in patients after percutaneous aortic valve replacement. Acta Paul Enferm. 2016;29(3):267-73. doi: 10.1590/1982-0194201600038
https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-01942016000...

4 Strasberg SM, Hall BL. Postoperative morbidity index: a quantitative measure of severity of postoperative complications. J Am Coll Surg. 2011;213(5):616-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.07.019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

5 Assis GLG, Sousa CS, Turrini RNT, Poveda VB, Silva RCG. Proposal of nursing diagnoses, outcomes and interventions for postoperative patients of orthognathic surgery. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2018; 52: e03321. doi: 10.1590/s1980-220x2017025303321
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x201702...

6 Ghaferi AA, Osborne NH, Birkmeyer JD, Dimick JB. Hospital characteristics associated with failure to rescue from complications after pancreatectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2010;211(3):325-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2010.04.025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
-77 Makary MA, Segev DL, Pronovost PJ, Syin D, Bandeen-Roche K, Patel P, et al. Frailty as a predictor of surgical outcomes in older patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;210(6):901-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2010.01.028
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
), with overall mortality ranging from 0.79% to 5.7%(22 Siqueira EMP, Diccini S. Postoperative complications in elective and non-elective neurosurgery. Acta Paul Enferm. 2017;30(1):101-8. doi: 10.1590/1982-0194201700015
https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-01942017000...
,44 Strasberg SM, Hall BL. Postoperative morbidity index: a quantitative measure of severity of postoperative complications. J Am Coll Surg. 2011;213(5):616-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.07.019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
-55 Assis GLG, Sousa CS, Turrini RNT, Poveda VB, Silva RCG. Proposal of nursing diagnoses, outcomes and interventions for postoperative patients of orthognathic surgery. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2018; 52: e03321. doi: 10.1590/s1980-220x2017025303321
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x201702...
,88 Almoudaris AM, Burns EM, Mamidanna R, Bottle A, Aylin P, Vincent C, et al. Value of failure to rescue as a marker of the standard of care following reoperation for complications after colorectal resection. Br J Surg. 2011;98(12):1775-83. doi: 10.1002/bjs.7648
https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.7648...
) related to the type of surgery and severity of the complication. In addition, multiple complications is associated with a considerable increase in the chances of mortality, approximately 7.2 times(99 Tevis SE, Kennedy GD. Postoperative complications and implications on patient centered outcomes. J Surg Res. 2013;181(1):106-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.032
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.03...
).

Currently, the number of complications increases at a rate proportional to the surgical procedures. Approximately 234.2 million surgical procedures are performed worldwide each year, of which seven million suffer preventable complications, making this a major public health problem(1010 Ribeiro HCTCC. Adherence to completion of the safe surgery checklist. Cad Saúde Pública. 2017;33(10): e00046216. doi: 10.1590/0102-311x00046216
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x0004621...
).

In the United States alone, approximately 20 million people undergo surgical procedures annually(1111 Henriques AHB, Costa SS, Lacerda JS. Nursing care in surgical patient safety: an integrative review. Cogitare Enferm [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2019 Jun 23] 22(4):01-05. Available from: http://www.saude.ufpr.br/portal/revistacogitare/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/12/45622-190205-1-PB. pdf
http://www.saude.ufpr.br/portal/revistac...
). Future forecasts show an exponential growth trend in the surgical sector as the world market for surgical procedures is expected to reach 2.2 billion procedures by 2022. North America is the fastest growing market, but Asia Pacific leads due to the increasing incidence of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, traumatic injuries and the introduction of advanced surgical technologies in the region. The market in North America is growing rapidly due to the increased number of cesarean surgeries and high demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures. Regarding the volume of procedures, gynecological, orthopedic and plastic surgeries stand out(1212 Transparency Market Research. Surgical Procedures Volumes Market: ToC [Internet]. United States, 2018[cited 2019 Jun 23]. Available from: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/1289
https://www.transparencymarketresearch.c...
).

In Brazil, it is complicated to estimate the overall prevalence of surgical interventions due to the lack of systematized data addressing such procedures. However, a recent study(1313 Massenburg BB, Saluja S, Jenny HE, Raykar NP, Ng-Kamstra J, Guilloux AGA, et al. Assessing the Brazilian surgical system with six surgical indicators: a descriptive and modelling study. BMJ Global Health. 2017;2(2):e000226. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000226
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2016-00022...
), based on a database of the Brazilian national health system, points out that the surgical volume in the country was 4,433 procedures/100,000 people in 2014. In this sense, it is very important to develop strategies for analysis, management and monitoring of patients undergoing these surgeries, especially to identify complications.

In this sense, the most important limitation in reporting postoperative complications is the lack of a standardized system to classify and characterize complications. Studies that explored this object were limited to arbitrarily describing complications as “severe”, “major” or “minor”, which makes it difficult to compare results in the literature as a whole(22 Siqueira EMP, Diccini S. Postoperative complications in elective and non-elective neurosurgery. Acta Paul Enferm. 2017;30(1):101-8. doi: 10.1590/1982-0194201700015
https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-01942017000...
,99 Tevis SE, Kennedy GD. Postoperative complications and implications on patient centered outcomes. J Surg Res. 2013;181(1):106-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.032
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.03...
,1414 Morris AM, Baldwin LM, Matthews B, Dominitz JA, Barlow WE, Dobie SA, et al. Reoperation as a quality indicator in colorectal surgery: a population-based analysis. Ann Surg. 2017;245(1)73-9. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000231797.37743.9f
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.sla.000023179...
) and to propose intervention strategies. In addition, there is little specificity about which complications are commonly associated with different surgeries, and it is necessary to generalize the findings by extrapolating them and disregarding intrinsic characteristics of different surgical specialties. Thus, it is necessary to better characterize these complications that include the specificities and aspects of monitoring, such as manifestation time, intensity, monitoring frequency, among others.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the main complications occurring in the late postoperative period of surgical patients.

METHODS

This is an integrative literature review, one of the key features of evidence-based practice, a technique that allows us to summarize the past of empirical literature and to provide a comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon to be studied(1515 Fineout-Overholt E, Williamson KM, Gallagher-Ford L, Melnyk BM, Stillwell SB. Following the evidence: planning for sustainable change. Am J Nurs. 2011;111(1):54-60. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000393062.83761.c0
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.000039306...
).

For study development, the following steps were taken: establishment of the hypothesis/guiding question; selection of databases to be searched; definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria; database search, analysis of retrieved studies; interpretation of results and presentation of the review or synthesis of knowledge(1515 Fineout-Overholt E, Williamson KM, Gallagher-Ford L, Melnyk BM, Stillwell SB. Following the evidence: planning for sustainable change. Am J Nurs. 2011;111(1):54-60. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000393062.83761.c0
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.000039306...
).

The research question was guided by the question: “What are the most frequent late postoperative complications of surgical patients?” Following the specifications of the PICOT strategy (acronym for Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Time). Thus we define for P: patient; I: surgery; O: complication; and T: late postoperative. Comparison was not the object of this study.

We adopted as late postoperative the period after discharge from the hospital care patient(99 Tevis SE, Kennedy GD. Postoperative complications and implications on patient centered outcomes. J Surg Res. 2013;181(1):106-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.032
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.03...
,1616 Brunicard FC. Schwartz’s principles of surgery. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2018.). It is a period of “difficult determination” in which decreased attention to the patient may increase the likelihood of complications(99 Tevis SE, Kennedy GD. Postoperative complications and implications on patient centered outcomes. J Surg Res. 2013;181(1):106-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.032
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.01.03...
,1616 Brunicard FC. Schwartz’s principles of surgery. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2018.-1717 Petrez F, Pioner S. Pré e Pós-Operatório em Cirurgia Geral e Especializada. São Paulo: Editora Artmed, 2th ed. 2003.).

In the search for the articles, we chose to use international and wide-spread biomedical databases(1818 Camargo FC, Iwamoto HH, Galvão CM, Pereira GA, Andrade RB, Masso GC. Competences and Barriers for the Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: an integrative review. Rev Bras Enferm. 2018;71(4):2030-8. doi. 10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0617), such as: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS - Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde), Science direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Europe PMC and MEDLINE through the National Library of Medicine PubMed portal.

Seeking to retrieve as many primary studies as possible, we combine controlled descriptors (terms obtained from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and titles extracted from CINAHL or Health Sciences Descriptors or DeCS), with keywords as follows:

  • PubMed and Web of Science: Postoperative Complications AND surgical OR general surgical AND surgical procedures, operative OR surgical AND procedures AND operative OR operative surgical procedures OR surgical AND complications.

  • CINAHL and Embase: Postoperative Complications OR post-discharge complications AND surgical complications AND surgical OR general surgical AND surgical procedures, operative OR surgical AND procedures AND operative OR operative surgical procedures OR surgical AND complications AND post-hospital.

  • LILACS (in Portuguese, English and Spanish): “Postoperative Complications” [Words] AND Surgery [Words] AND Post-Discharge [Words].

  • Scopus and Science direct: Postoperative Complications AND surgical OR general surgical AND surgical procedures AND operative OR surgical AND procedures AND operative OR operative surgical procedures OR surgical AND complications.

  • Europe PMC: Postoperative Complications AND surgical AND surgical procedures AND surgical operative AND surgical Patient AND surgical complications.

As inclusion criteria we defined: primary or original articles(1515 Fineout-Overholt E, Williamson KM, Gallagher-Ford L, Melnyk BM, Stillwell SB. Following the evidence: planning for sustainable change. Am J Nurs. 2011;111(1):54-60. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000393062.83761.c0
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.000039306...
,1818 Camargo FC, Iwamoto HH, Galvão CM, Pereira GA, Andrade RB, Masso GC. Competences and Barriers for the Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: an integrative review. Rev Bras Enferm. 2018;71(4):2030-8. doi. 10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0617) published on the theme in any language, with available abstract and no time limit. The bibliographic search occurred concurrently in the seven databases by two researchers with expertise in the method and thematic studied at the same time, in different places, aiming to avoid bias in the screening of articles to be analyzed. Meetings were held for discussion and consensus among researchers about the inclusion or exclusion of studies in the research. For any disagreements that could not be resolved by consensus, a third reviewer was called.

We excluded review surveys, expert opinion, protocols, response letters, and editorials in the first search. The analysis to select the research was performed in three phases, namely:

  1. The manuscripts identified in the databases were pre-selected according to the inclusion criteria, analyzed by reading their titles and abstracts. Thus, the number of retrieved studies per database was 332 at PubMed, 355 at Web of Science, 96 at CINAHL, 30 at Embase, 09 at LILACS, 412 at Scopus, 331 at Science Direct and 315 at Europe PMC, resulting in a total of 1,880 primary studies.

  2. In the second phase, 372 duplicate studies were withdrawn and the pre-selected researches were analyzed regarding the participation potential, assessing the attendance to the research question, the type of research developed, objectives, materials and method, main results and conclusion. At this stage, we excluded studies conducted with non-surgical patients, which were developed with individuals under 18 years old or exclusively over 85 years old and who addressed only individuals in the immediate postoperative, intraoperative or preoperative period. Based on this, this step generated 33 primary studies, excluding 1847 studies according to the criteria set out in Chart 1.

    Chart 1
    Distribution of justifications for the exclusion of articles and corresponding quantity of disregarded publications

  3. The third phase consisted of the full reading of the 33 primary studies, aiming at collecting data specific to the objectives of the review. Studies that did not make clear which complications assessed were excluded, resulting in the 10 primary studies (PS) selected. From these manuscripts were assessed: bibliometric questions (year, base and language of publication), methodological design, contemplated surgical topographies, monitoring frequency, follow-up time and severity assessment system.

The flowchart that led to the selection of the 10 primary studies is shown in Figure 01.

Figure 1
Publication Selection Flowchart

RESULTS

The included PS were all in English (100%)(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
). There was no concentration in any given year, although 40%(2020 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...
,2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
-2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
,2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
) of the studies were recently published (2013-2018). Concerning the database, PubMed hosted 70% of the studies(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
-2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
,2525 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...
,2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
).

Regarding the methodological design, retrospective studies predominated (50%)(2020 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...
,2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
,2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
,2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
,2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
) based on secondary data retrieved from patient records. A series of surgical topographies were contemplated, with emphasis on general, orthopedic, thoracic, gastrointestinal and urinary surgeries. In general, the selected studies sought to identify the main post-discharge complications of patients undergoing surgery, relating this finding to risk factors, readmissions and mortality.

Infectious complications were the most common in all (100%)(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
) studies, especially surgical wound infection/surgical site infection (80%)(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...
,2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
-2727 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
), pneumonia and other complications of the respiratory tract (60%)(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...
,2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
-2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
,2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
,2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
,2929 Stracieri LDS. Cuidados e complicações pós-operatórias. Medicina. 2008;41(4):465-8. doi: 10.11606/issn.2176-7262.v41i4p465-468
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7262....
) and urinary tract infection (20%)(2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
,2727 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
). Bleeding (60%)(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...
-2020 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...
,2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
,2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
-2525 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...
,2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
), dehiscence (40%)(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...
,2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
,2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
-2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
) and other complications related to the operated organ/site were also reported. The presence of complications was linked to increased mortality, need for reoperations and poor survival (Chart 2).

Chart 2
Summary of articles included in the integrative review

We highlight that few studies (20.0%)(2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
-2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
) reported the frequency of monitoring, follow-up time and/or when complications began to be observed (20%)(2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
,2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
). Regarding the system of assessment of the severity of the complications, eight (80%)(2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
) of the primary studies used the Clavien-Dindo system, and no other classification attempt was registered.

DISCUSSION

Assessment and monitoring of post-discharge complications in surgical patients has been performed retrospectively, based on secondary data (medical records search) or through outpatient return (patient interviews and/or reassessment). There are few studies that detail the main complications, and differences in the approaches used make it difficult to make comparisons that would provide an adequate situational picture.

Even so, infectious complications stood out after the hospital in all selected studies(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
), especially surgical site-related infection (SSI)/operative wound (OW). It has a prevalence ranging from 2.5(2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
) to 30.8(2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
) and pneumonia ranging from 3(2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
) to 22.5(2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
) in prevalence. Postoperative hemorrhage was around 3%(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...
,2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
,2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
,2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
), and in a study with patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy, this value reached 12.5% of patients. The occurrence of these complications has been associated with the need for readmissions and/or high mortality(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
-2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
,2525 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
).

Complications tend to vary in frequency, incidence, and severity, and this difference is related to a number of variables intrinsic to the patient (age, malnutrition, past disease, immunosuppression), as well as related to the procedure, such as the presence of associated clinical condition, type of anesthesia, degree of injury and postoperative care(1616 Brunicard FC. Schwartz’s principles of surgery. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2018.-1717 Petrez F, Pioner S. Pré e Pós-Operatório em Cirurgia Geral e Especializada. São Paulo: Editora Artmed, 2th ed. 2003.,2929 Stracieri LDS. Cuidados e complicações pós-operatórias. Medicina. 2008;41(4):465-8. doi: 10.11606/issn.2176-7262.v41i4p465-468
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7262....
). However, we realize from this review that although there are a range of possible complications, those of infectious nature stand out and are common to almost all surgeries studied(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
).

These are a set of potentially serious complications in patients undergoing various types of surgical operations. By definition, SSI may epidemiologically occur within the first 30 postoperative days, but still expand to up to one year in prosthesis and orthosis implantation. In these infections the first 48 hours are critical due to increased metabolism and surgical trauma alone. This complication is usually associated with temperature elevation especially within the first 72 hours after surgery. From the third day on vascular catheter-related infections, incisional infections and sepsis are more prevalent. From the sixth day onwards, septic complications causing fever and incisional abscesses are associated with more severe repercussions and a greater possibility of death.

Our data also highlight the correlation between the presence of one or more complications and increased mortality(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...

21 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
-2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
,2525 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
), need for reoperations(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...
-2020 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...
,2222 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...
-2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
,2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
) and worse survival(2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
,2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
).

Currently, there is a need for optimization of spaces, resources and expenses resulting from hospitalization, which has a significant influence on patients’ discharge decision. There is a socioeconomic pressure allied to grant institutional discharge as soon as possible, aiming at reducing hospital expenses and ensuring bed turnover(1919 Alves A, Panis Y, Mantion G, Slim K, Kwiatkowski F, Vicaut E. The AFC Score: Validation of a 4-Item Predicting Score of Postoperative Mortality After Colorectal Resection for Cancer or Diverticulitis: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study in 1049 Patients. Ann Surg [Internet]. 2007;246(1):91-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA. 0b013e3180602ff5
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA. 0b013e31806...

20 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...
-2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
,2424 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...
,2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
). As a result of these factors, patients who still require clinical monitoring may be discharged early due to the need for bed release. When made without the necessary rigor and based on clinical inconsistencies, such a decision may expose patients to inadequate levels of care, resulting in unexpected deaths or readmissions(2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
). In the case of surgical patients, this assertion has become increasingly valid and common, especially due to the high probability of postoperative complications to which these patients are exposed(3030 Nagele P, Pal S, Brown F, Blood J, Miller JP, Johnston J. Postoperative QT-interval prolongation in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia. Anesthesiol. 2012;117(2):321-8. doi: 10.1097/ALN. 0b013e31825e6eb3
https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN. 0b013e31825...
).

Outside the hospital environment, user monitoring is abruptly diminished and in some cases nonexistent(2020 Kulemann B, Fritz M, Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, et al. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with higher amounts of intra-and postoperative fluid therapy: a single center retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg. 2017;16:23-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.02.0...
-2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
,2323 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...
). The literature shows that surgical patient monitoring in most institutions has only occurred during the period of hospitalization. In these cases, these institutions tend not to report what actually happens in terms of complications, or limit the findings to the immediate postoperative period. When monitoring is performed only during hospital stay, it does not provide reliable indicators and may lead to underreporting(2626 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...
,3131 Oliveira AC, Ciosak SI. Surgical site infection in a university hospital: post-release surveillance and risk factors. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2007;41(2):258-63. doi: 10.1590/S0080-62342007000200012
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-6234200700...
-3232 Oliveira AC, Carvalho DV. Evaluation of underreported surgical site infection evidenced by post-discharge surveillance. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem. 2007;15(5):992-7. doi: 10.1590/S0104-11692007000500017
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-1169200700...
).

Even though complication rates among the selected studies were high, the lack of strategies to monitor and manage surgical graduates (in terms of analysis of signs and symptoms and time to manifestation) is a cause for concern. In this sense, although the Clavien-Dindo classification system, used in most studies(2121 Seely AJ, Ivanovic J, Threader J, Al-Hussaini A, Al-Shehab D, Ramsay T. Systematic classification of morbidity and mortality after thoracic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90(3):936-42. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.05.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...

22 Selby LV, Vertosick EA, Sjoberg DD, Schattner MA, Janjigian YY, Brennan MF. Morbidity after total gastrectomy: analysis of 238 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220(5):863-71.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.01.058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.20...

23 Tevis SE, Kohlnhofer BM, Weber SM, Kennedy GD. Post-discharge complications are an important predictor of postoperative readmissions. Am J Surg. 2014;208(4):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.05.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.0...

24 Haga Y, Ikejiri K, Takeuchi H, Ikenaga M, Wada Y. Value of general surgical risk models for predicting postoperative liver failure and mortality following liver surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2012;106(7):898-904. doi: 10.1002/jso.23160
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23160...

25 Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi: 10.1089/end.2011.0067
https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0067...

26 Booka E, Takeuchi H, Nishi T, Matsuda S, Kaburagi T, Fukuda K. The impact of postoperative complications on survivals after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Medicine. 2015;94(33):e1369. doi: 10.1097/MD. 0000000000001369
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD. 000000000000...

27 Roche JJ, Wenn RT, Sahota O, Moran CG. Effect of comorbidities and postoperative complications on mortality after hip fracture in elderly people: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 2005;331:1374. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38643.663843.55
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38643.663843...
-2828 Khan NA, Quan H, Bugar JM, Lemaire JB, Brant R, Ghali WA. Association of postoperative complications with hospital costs and lengthof stay in a tertiary care center. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(2):177-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00319.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006...
), is important for identifying and categorizing complications in degrees of intensity, its applicability from the point of view of monitoring and monitoring is extremely limited.

Studies have shown that barriers to effective monitoring ranged from patients’ perceptions of the difficulties encountered in developing post-discharge care to obstacles reported by the health team to establish adequate information feedback. Thus, lack of monitoring, or mismanagement, can provide information with poor credibility and accuracy, making decision-making difficult.

The use of emerging mass information and communication technologies to improve or promote health (e-Health) may represent an opportunity to improve the identification and management of post-discharge complications(3333 Kim B, Park K, Ryoo S. Effects of a mobile educational program for colorectal cancer patients undergoing the enhanced recovery after surgery. Open Nurs J. 2019;12:142. doi: 10.2174/1874434601812010142
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874434601812010...

34 Sousa AFL, Bim LL, Schneider G, Hermann PRS, Andrade D, Fronteira I. m-Health in the surgical context: prospecting, review and analysis of mobile applications. Open Nurs J. 2019;13:18-27. doi: 10.2174/1874434601913010018
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874434601913010...
-3535 Petherick ES, Dalton JE, Moore PJ, Cullum N, et al. Methods for identifying surgical wound infection after discharge from hospital: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis. 2016;6:170. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-170
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-6-170...
). Recent studies point to the importance of investing in post-discharge patient monitoring strategies, especially through smartphones. Applications have health purposes an innovative and important technological tool with the potential to improve patient follow-up regarding disease evolution and self-care, co-participation in treatment, individualized care and cost reduction for the health system(3333 Kim B, Park K, Ryoo S. Effects of a mobile educational program for colorectal cancer patients undergoing the enhanced recovery after surgery. Open Nurs J. 2019;12:142. doi: 10.2174/1874434601812010142
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874434601812010...

34 Sousa AFL, Bim LL, Schneider G, Hermann PRS, Andrade D, Fronteira I. m-Health in the surgical context: prospecting, review and analysis of mobile applications. Open Nurs J. 2019;13:18-27. doi: 10.2174/1874434601913010018
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874434601913010...

35 Petherick ES, Dalton JE, Moore PJ, Cullum N, et al. Methods for identifying surgical wound infection after discharge from hospital: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis. 2016;6:170. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-170
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-6-170...

36 Mendez CB, Salum NC, Junkes C, Amante LN, Mendez CML. Aplicativo móvel educativo e de follow up para pacientes com doença arterial periférica. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem. 2019;27:e3122. doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.2693-3122
https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2693-3...
-3737 Sousa CS, Turrini RNT. Desenvolvimento de aplicativo de celular educativo para pacientes submetidos à cirurgia ortognática. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem. 2019;27:e3143. doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.2904.3143
https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2904.3...
).

Follow-up should be carried out by the health team, in which nurses are inserted. Professional education enables them to identify health-disease situations, supporting the prescription and implementation of concrete health actions in the promotion, prevention, recovery and rehabilitation in the health of the individual, family and community, based on the systematization of their care. In addition, the proximity of nurses to patients, whether in a hospital, outpatient or home environment, makes them protagonists in monitoring patients with postoperative complications.

Study limitations

This research has limitations related to the adopted method. Since this is an integrative review, the results are restricted to showing only a picture of current reality based on the results of primary studies. Even if the intention was to compare interventions, there were no clinical studies published in the databases to support this approach. In addition, the different approaches used limit comparisons between studies and countries(3838 Sousa AFL, Marques DM, Monteiro RM, Queiroz AAFL, Andrade D, Watanabe E. Prevention of biofilm formation on artificial pacemakers: is it feasible?. Acta Paul Enferm. 2017;30(6):644650. doi: 10.1590/1982-0194201700085
https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-01942017000...
).

Contributions to the field

Our findings generally highlight the importance of investing in post-discharge patient monitoring strategies to identify early signs and symptoms of possible complications.

CONCLUSION

Infectious complications were the most prevalent in all selected studies, especially surgical site infection and pneumonia. The presence of complications was linked to increased mortality, need for reoperations and poor survival. The scarcity of guidelines that guide the monitoring of infections with regard to monitoring frequency, follow-up time and classification makes it difficult to establish an overview and therefore to propose intervention strategies.

  • FUNDING
    This study was funded by Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior), by grant of the Sandwich Doctoral Program (PDSE - Programa de Doutorado Sanduiche) to the main researcher, under Process: 88881.186996/2018-01.

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Edited by

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dulce Barbosa
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Antonio José de Almeida Filho

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    01 July 2020
  • Date of issue
    2020

History

  • Received
    24 June 2019
  • Accepted
    06 Dec 2019
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