Table 1.

Potential complications recorded at hospital discharge

1. Deep wound infection: lay open of the wound was mandatory

2. Intra-abdominal abscess: confirmed by laparotomy or percutaneous drainage

3. Anastomotic leak: confirmed by intraluminal contrast studies and/or laparotomy

4. Re-bleeding or significant wound haematoma

5. Pneumonia: confirmed by chest X-ray and/or mucus cultures

6. Thrombosis and/or pulmonary emboli: confirmed by either venography, duplex sonography and computed tomography scan

7. Pressure ulcer (grade II, III and IV were scored)

8. Urinary tract: infections confirmed by urine cultures

9. Cardiac (acute coronary syndromes, decompensated heart disease, arrhythmias): confirmed by electrocardiography and/or CK/CKMB studies or by chest X-ray

10. Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke: confirmed by computed tomography scan

11. Sepsis (SIRS caused by an infection)

12. Miscellaneous

13. Multiple organ failure (altered organ function in an acutely ill patient such that homeostasis cannot be maintained without intervention)