POSSUM: A scoring system for surgical audit

TLDR

POSSUM is a scoring system that quantifies physiological and operative severity to predict mortality and morbidity. The study prospectively validates the POSSUM scoring system. Logistic regression yielded significant mortality and morbidity equations, and POSSUM scores accurately matched observed rates, allowing clear morbidity/mortality zones for surgical audit.

Abstract

POSSUM, a Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity, is described. This system has been devised from both a retrospective and prospective analysis and the present paper attempts to validate it prospectively. Logistic regression analysis yielded statistically significant equations for both mortality and morbidity (P less than 0.001). When displayed graphically zones of increasing morbidity and mortality rates could be defined which could be of value in surgical audit. The scoring system produced assessments for morbidity and mortality rates which did not significantly differ from observed rates.