Table 3.

Definition of organ dysfunction

Dysfunctional organ system	Criteria
Renal	Urine output ≤ 1 ml/kg per h or serum creatinine ≥ 100 μmol/l
Respiratory	Ventilatory support with inspired oxygen fraction ≥ 0.4 for more than 5 days postoperatively
Hepatic	Aspartate aminotransferase ≥ 500 IU/L or prothrombin time* ≤ 50%
Cardiac	Need for catecholamines >24 h postoperatively†
Haematological	Thrombocytes <100,000/μl
Neurological	Seizures or coma

^*Patient/control value. ^†Dopamine <5 μg/kg per min excluded.