Predictive factors for complications in plastic surgery procedures - suggested safety scores

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

This study analyzed the association between plastic surgery complications and risk factors in the study population, and presents a safety scale for planning plastic surgery procedures.

Methods:

A case-control study was performed, including patients who underwent procedures at various plastic surgery centers from 2010-2011 and who had some type of postoperative complication. The control group consisted of patients who underwent similar procedures during the same period without complications. Descriptive analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequency and measures of central tendency (mean and median) and dispersion (standard deviation and minimum and maximum value). Associations were analyzed using the chi-squared test of association and univariate and multiple logistic models. In all analyses, statistical significance was defined as p-values <0.05.

Results:

A total of 168 patients were analyzed: 75 cases with complications (Group I, 44.64%) and 93 controls (Group II). There was a statistically significant association between the presence of a complication and two variables: undergoing an associated procedure (p = 0.049) and surgery duration greater than 240 minutes (p=0.049).

Conclusion:

The literature shows multifactorial risks for plastic surgery procedures. Proper patient selection, preoperative planning, and intraand postoperative prophylactic care have contributed to decreased incidence of serious complications. The main risk factors associated with post-surgical complications were surgery durations longer than 4 hours and associated procedures.

Keywords:
Safety in Plastic Surgery; Safety Score in Plastic Surgery; Predictive Safety Factors in Plastic Surgery