Severity of illness in intra-abdominal infection. A comparison of two indexes
T. Skau, P. O. Nystrom and C. Carlsson
The severity of illness in 58 surgical patients with high-grade
intra-abdominal infection was measured with two methods, an acute
physiology score and a septic severity score. Both methods are the summed
weight of derangements in physiologic factors representing the function of
the major organ systems of the body. Sixteen patients died (28%). Score
values with both methods were significantly higher for nonsurvivors than
for survivors. There was good interrelation between the methods, and the
scores correlated better with mortality than did age, chronic disease,
anatomy, or cause. Three risk levels were recognized, low, high, and
intermediate, with respective mortality rates of less than 10%, greater
than 80%, and approximately 45%. Three-fourths of the patients were
assigned to the same risk group with both methods. The severity of illness
in patients with intra-abdominal infection can suitably be measured with
both methods.
