The term postoperative pulmonary complication is the development of any complications affecting the respiratory system after anesthetic and surgery procedures. The ARISCAT risk assessment score is a seven-variable regression model that divides patients into low, moderate, and high-risk groups. In this study, the investigators aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the ARISCAT risk scoring index in predicting postoperative pulmonary complication development in patients scheduled for major abdominal cancer surgery.

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) are one of the major causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Mortality and morbidity are 14-30% in patients with PPC, while it is 0.2-3% in patients without PPC. Its incidence is variable (<1% to 19%) and is more common than cardiac complications. Unfortunately, PPCs prolong the hospital stay significantly (up to 13-17 days), which means postoperative delirium, infection, and cost increase. The causes of PPCs are varied, and their physiopathology is well explained [3]. However, the rate of risk identification and scoring is not known. The synergistic effects of the patient's medical condition, general anesthesia, and surgery type on the respiratory system complicate the problem.The surgical approach, anesthesia method, and preoperative risk factors of the patients play an important role in the development of PPC.

This study was conducted after the approval from Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology SUAM Ethics Committee in Ankara, Turkey (Between December 2020 - July 2021) (Ethics Committee Decision No: 2019-11 / 459). After informing all the patients included in the study, verbal and written consent were obtained. 410 patients over 18 years of age, who were scheduled for general anesthesia and whose ASA physical score was 1-4, were included in the study.

Demographic data of the patients, preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, chronic diseases, ASA scores, preoperative hemoglobulin values, functional status, history of pulmonary system disease in the last 30 days, history of smoking and the amount of cigarette consumption, history of steroid use, chemotherapy and radiotherapy history, anesthesia method, surgical incision side (lower-upper abdominal), premedication status, intraoperative ventilation parameters (tidal volume, PEEP, peak pressure, fiO2 ratio), pneumoperitoneum pressure, amount of colloid / crystalloid product used, erythrocyte suspension and amount used, laparoscopic or open surgery, emergency or elective surgery, the duration of operation, and postoperative analgesia method (such as intravenous or epidural patient-controlled analgesia) were recorded. The ARISCAT risk assessment scores of the patients were also evaluated and recorded preoperatively.

The patients were followed up in the postoperative care unit. The presence of postoperative pulmonary complications was evaluated, and the time of discharge was recorded. On the 30th day after discharge, patients were called and checked their status in terms of mortality. Postoperative pulmonary complications were defined by the development of one of the following new findings. The European Perioperative Clinical Outcome Definitions (EPCO) were used for this definition.

These findings; Respiratory Failure, Respiratory infection, Aspiration Pneumonia, Pleural effusion, Pneumothorax, Atelectasis, Bronchoconstriction, Pneumonia, ARDS, Pulmonary Embolism, Pulmonary Edema, Unplanned emergency re-intubation, Leaving as intubated from the operation room.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Over 18 years of age
2. Who were scheduled for general anesthesia
3. Whose ASA physical score was 1-4

Exclusion Criteria:

1. ASA physical status> 4
2. Pregnant women
3. Intubated patients before the operation
4. Patients who had surgery due to a previous surgical complication
5. Severe cardiovascular disease
6. Severe hemodynamic instability

A total of 420 patients operated in General Surgery, Urology, and Gynecological Oncology departments were included in the study. Seven of these patients were excluded from the study because they did not sign the written consent, and three patients were excluded due to a lack of data.