Table 2.

Examples of surgical case types stratified by indication and urgency

Indication	Urgency	Case Examples
Emergent	<  1 h	• Life-threatening emergencies • Acute exsanguination/hemorrhagic shock • Trauma level 1 activations • Acute vascular injury or occlusion • Aortic dissection • Emergency C-section • Acute compartment syndrome • Necrotizing fasciitis • Peritonitis • Bowel obstruction/perforation
Urgent	< 24 h	• Appendicitis/cholecystitis • Septic arthritis • Open fractures • Bleeding pelvic fractures • Femur shaft fractures & hip fractures • Acute nerve injuries/spinal cord injuries • Surgical infections
Urgent-elective	<  2 weeks	• Cardiothoracic/cardiovascular procedures • Cerebral aneurysm repair • Vascular access devices • Skin grafts/flaps/wound closures • Scheduled C-section • Closed fractures • Spinal fractures & acetabular fractures
Elective (essential)	1–3 months	• Cancer surgery & biopsies • Subacute cardiac valve procedures • Hernia repair • Hysterectomy • Reconstructive surgery
Elective (discretionary)	> 3 months	• Cosmetic surgery • Bariatric surgery • Joint replacement • Sports surgery • Vasectomy/tubal ligation • Infertility procedures

Examples of surgical case types stratified by indication and urgency. From: Stahel PF. How to risk-stratify elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic?. Patient Saf Surg. 2020;14:8. Published 2020 Mar 31. doi:10.1186/s13037-020-00235-9