Objectives: The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is common after major surgery. We examine the dynamics of SIRS in AAA patients, and assess the impact of the number of SIRS criteria on patient outcome.
Design: Prospective study of 151 consecutive patients with AAA, undergoing repair electively, urgently or with rupture.
Methods: SIRS scores and organ failure scores were recorded prospectively each day for all patients. Outcome measures included length of stay, evidence of organ failure and mortality.
Results: The majority of patients developed SIRS postoperatively. Elective patients with a cumulative SIRS score of > or =10 during postoperative days 1-4 were more likely to die, compared to patients with a SIRS score of <10 (p=0.02). The development of SIRS late in the postoperative period (day 5-10) was associated with adverse outcome (death) in elective patients (p=0.01). The actual number of SIRS criteria present did not significantly correlate with either outcome or the incidence of organ failure.
Conclusions: SIRS is common in patients undergoing AAA repair. The SIRS score provides useful information regarding a patient's physiological state. High SIRS scores, and the development of SIRS late in the postoperative period are associated with adverse outcome in elective patients, and can therefore be used as an indicator of potential problems.