E-PASS (The Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress) scoring system helps the prediction of postoperative morbidity and mortality in thoracic surgery.

OBJECTIVE

When a new scoring system, 'E-PASS', standing for the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress that predicts the postoperative surgical risk by quantification of the patient's reserve and surgical stress applied to a population of general thoracic surgery patients, it should be investigated if this system could help us or not.

METHODS

The comprehensive risk score (CRS) of the E-PASS and the clinical course were evaluated retrospectively in 282 consecutive patients with primary lung cancer (group A), and in 458 patients who underwent elective thoracic operations (group B).

RESULTS

The morbidity and mortality rates in both group A and group B increased as the CRS increased. The CRS correlated significantly with the morbidity score, length of stay and cost of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

E-PASS scoring system may be useful in surgical decision-making and evaluating quality of care in patients who are tolerable for lung resection.