Scoring Systems for Prediction of Outcome in Colon and Rectal Surgery

A large number of scoring systems, assessing a patient's risk of mortality or morbidity, have been developed over the recent years. Many scoring systems address general surgical practice. Recently scoring systems specific for colon and rectal surgery, adjusted for case-mix, have been developed. Postoperative mortality is the main outcome studied, but other outcomes of colorectal cancer surgery should also be taken into account when quality of surgical care is assessed. Proper external validation is still needed for most models before reliable comparative audit is possible. Quantification of patient risk is now a well-established research focus, which in time will improve individualized surgical treatment and colorectal surgery outcomes by means of proper comparative audit.