Background: The POSSUM system has been devised for physiologic and operative scoring. The scoring system produced assessment for morbidity and mortality rates, which did not significantly differ from observed rates. The authors have applied this system to bariatric surgery.
Patients and methods: 20 patients were scored by the POSSUM system. All underwent elective bariatric surgery during 1997. All patients were scored at the time of surgery with the physiologic score (FIS) and at discharge with the operative severity score (IQ). The FIS score included age; cardiac signs; chest radiograph; respiratory history; blood pressure; pulse; Glasgow coma score; determinations of hemoglobin, leukocyte, urea, sodium, and potassium levels; and electrocardiogram. The IQ score included multiple procedures, total blood loss, peritoneal soiling, presence of malignancy, and mode of surgery.
Results: The mean POSSUM score was 23.9. The mean FIS was 13.95 (12-22), and the mean IQ was 9.4 (7-16). The distribution of patients was performed for BMI. The group with BMI 35-45 (n = 4 patients) had a mean POSSUM score of 22.75, a mean FIS of 13.75, and a mean IQ of 9.0. The group with BMI >45 (n = 16 patients) had a mean POSSUM score of 24.18, a mean FIS of 14.62, and a mean IQ of 9.5. The morbidities were gastric fistula with peritonitis and deep venous thrombosis. The two complications had similar POSSUM scores with different BMIs. No mortality was observed.
Conclusions: According to this experience, the POSSUM scoring system appears to provide an indicator of minor risk of morbidity and mortality in bariatric surgery with vertical banded gastroplasty.