Surgical apgar score in patients undergoing lumbar fusion for degenerative spine diseases

•SAS is an independent predictor of major complications after lumbar fusion surgery.•Lower SAS are accompanied with higher rates of major complications.•SAS can be included as an indicator in the guidance for postoperative care.

ObjectiveLumbar fusion is a procedure broadly performed for degenerative diseases of spines, but it is not without significant morbidities. Surgical Apgar Score (SAS), based on intraoperative blood loss, blood pressure, and heart rate, was developed for prognostic prediction in general and vascular operations. We aimed to examine whether the application of SAS in patients undergoing fusion procedures for degeneration of lumbar spines predicts in-hospital major complications.MethodsOne hundred and ninety-nine patients that underwent lumbar fusion operation for spine degeneration were enrolled in this retrospective study. Based on whether major complications were present (N = 16) or not (N = 183), the patients were subdivided. We identified the intergroup differences in SAS and clinical parameters.ResultsThe incidence of in-hospital major complications was 8%. The duration of hospital stay for the morbid patents was significantly prolonged (p = 0.04). In the analysis of multivariable logistic regression, SAS was an independent predicting factor of the complications after lumbar fusion for degenerative spine diseases [p = 0.001; odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 0.35 (0.19-0.64)]. Lower scores were accompanied with higher rates of major complications, and the area was 0.872 under the receiver operating characteristic curve.ConclusionSAS is an independent predicting factor of major complications in patients after fusion surgery for degenerative diseases of lumbar spines, and provides good risk discrimination. Since the scoring system is relatively simple, objective, and practical, we suggest that SAS be included as an indicator in the guidance for level of care after lumbar fusion surgery.