Comparison of Scoring Systems in Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

This prospective observational study is designed to assess the predictive accuracy of multiple perioperative risk assessment tools in adult patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) surgery for malignancy under general anesthesia. Preoperative risk stratification is a key component of perioperative care, as it supports identification of patients at increased risk for postoperative complications and mortality and facilitates appropriate perioperative planning and resource utilization.

Perioperative risk scores are calculated using routinely collected clinical data obtained during the preoperative evaluation and intraoperative period, in accordance with established definitions for each scoring system. The scoring systems evaluated include the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification (ASA-PS), Surgical Apgar Score (SAS), Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (P-POSSUM), American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator (ACS-NSQIP-SRC), and the ARISCAT risk score for postoperative pulmonary complications.

Postoperative outcomes are assessed during the index hospitalization and early postoperative follow-up period, focusing on the occurrence of pulmonary and non-pulmonary complications, short-term mortality, requirement for intensive care unit admission, and length of hospital and intensive care unit stay.

The primary objective of the study is to determine which perioperative risk assessment tools demonstrate the highest predictive accuracy for postoperative complications and mortality following gastrointestinal malignancy surgery. Secondary objectives include comparison of score performance for pulmonary versus non-pulmonary complications and evaluation of associations between risk scores and postoperative length of stay.

The results of this study are expected to provide clinically relevant evidence regarding the utility of commonly used perioperative risk scoring systems in gastrointestinal cancer surgery and to support improved perioperative risk stratification.

Inclusion criteria

Age ≥ 18 years, Scheduled to undergo elective gastrointestinal surgery for malignancy via laparotomy, Planned general anesthesia, Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Emergency surgery, Surgery performed using laparoscopic or robotic approaches, Previous gastrointestinal surgery for malignancy within the past 6 months, Inability to provide informed consent