TABLE 1.

Definitions of Post-Operative Non-Cardiac Complications

Gastrointestinal	Ileus	Dilated loops of bowel on X-Ray Documented ileus with nausea, vomiting, no stool or inability to take oral intake
	Gastrointestinal Bleeding	Sudden appearance of frank blood on nasogastric lavage or by rectum AND a decrease in hemoglobin of 2g/dL or greater with no other suspected source of ongoing blood loss
Infectious	Pneumonia	New infiltrate on Chest X-Ray plus 2 of the following 3 findings: T°>38°C, elevated white cell count, sputum pathogen that requires antibiotic treatment
	Bacteremia/Sepsis	Localized infection with positive blood culture for the same pathogen AND chills, rigors, fever, elevated white cell count AND intravenous antibiotic treatment
	Urinary Tract Infection	Pyuria +/− symptoms Positive Gram stain +/− symptoms
	Wound Cellulitis	As documented in physician’s note of a superficial skin infection
Neurologic	Cerebral Event – hypoxia, thrombosis or hemorrhage	New neurologic dysfunction (hemiplegia, hemianesthesia, hemianopia, aphasia or unconsciouness) post-operatively
	Transient Ischemic Attack	Any neurologic dysfunction resolving within a 24 hour period
	Delirium	Positive Confusion Assessment Method 38
Renal/Metabolic	Renal Failure	A doubling of baseline value of creatinine Serum creatinine >3.0mg/dL Acute need for dialysis
	Dehydration	As documented in the physician’s note
	Electrolyte Abnormalities	Any laboratory evidence of abnormal electrolytes compared to normal
Respiratory	Complications Respiratory Failure	Need for intubation and ventilation > 24hours post-operatively Need for re-intubation and ventilation after 1 hour post-operatively
	Respiratory Depression	Respiratory Arrest PaCO2 >60mmHg that provider believed was associated
	Pulmonary Hypoxemia	SaO2<90% with or without supplemental oxygen Supplemental oxygen >24 hours
Vascular	Deep Vein Thrombosis	Positive lower extremity venous doppler
	Pulmonary Embolism	Acute onset dyspnea and tachycardia, increased central venous pressure AND Positive Ventilation/Perfusion Scan OR Positive Computed Tomography OR Positive Pulmonary Angiogram
Other	Fractures Falls	Any in-hospital documented fracture of any bone Patients descending to the ground from any position unintentionally