P-POSSUM Score (Perioperative Mortality Risk)
Portsmouth POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity) predicts 30-day surgical mortality in abdominal surgery.
Score interpretation
→ Proceed with standard pre-op work-up; routine monitoring; senior review for complex cases
→ Senior surgeon involvement; HDU post-op; ICU booking; anaesthetic pre-assessment; optimise comorbidities; informed consent with numerical risk
→ MDT discussion; consultant anaesthetist mandatory; ICU bed pre-booked; weigh surgery risk vs conservative management; frank consent; consider palliative/conservative pathway if patient wishes
Interpretation bands for the P-POSSUM Score. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- POSSUM Score for Surgical Morbidity and Mortality · Perioperative Risk
- SORT (Surgical Outcome Risk Tool) · Perioperative Risk
- Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI / Lee Index) · Perioperative Risk
- ASA Physical Status Classification · Perioperative Risk
- Gupta Perioperative Risk for MI or Cardiac Arrest (MICA) · Perioperative Risk
- Cardiovascular Risk in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (CAR-OLT) Score · Perioperative Risk
- Rivaroxaban (Perioperative VTE Prophylaxis) · Direct Oral Anticoagulant — VTE Prophylaxis Post-Surgery
- Tranexamic Acid (ICU/Trauma/Surgical) · Antifibrinolytic
- Protamine Sulphate (Heparin Reversal) · Heparin Reversal / Cardiac Surgery
- Ephedrine Hydrochloride 0.5% Nasal Drops · Nasal decongestant — sympathomimetic (perioperative / ENT use)
- Cefuroxime · Second-Generation Cephalosporin — Respiratory / Surgical Prophylaxis
- Ertapenem · Carbapenem — ESBL / Complicated Intra-Abdominal / Community OPAT
- Major Trauma — Primary Survey (ATLS) · ATLS 10th Edition; JRCALC; NICE NG39
- Major Haemorrhage / Massive Transfusion · BCSH; RCOA; RCEM; RCS — BCSH Guidelines
- Burns — TBSA Estimation & Fluid Resuscitation · British Burn Association; EMSB; RCEM 2024
- Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed · NICE; BSG; ACPGBI — Commissioning Guide
- Acute Pancreatitis · NICE; IAP/APA; ACPGBI — CG104
- Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis · BAPS / RCPCH
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.