Surgery and anaesthesia
P-POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score)
Peri-operative morbidity and mortality prediction in surgery.
P-POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score) calculator
Result
0.0%predicted mortality
Morbidity ~1%
Physiological score: 6. Operative score: 1.
How to use it
- 1
Physiological score: 6 pre-op variables. Age, cardiac, respiratory, BP, HR, GCS.
- 2
Operative score: severity + malignancy + peritoneal. Collected at or after surgery.
- 3
P-POSSUM formula. Log odds model gives predicted morbidity and mortality rates.
When to use it
- Colorectal, vascular, and upper GI surgery
- Validated across surgical specialties. Used by NCEPOD for comparative audit.
- Consent for high-risk surgery
- Provide predicted mortality percentage to patient.
- Enhanced Recovery (ERAS)
- POSSUM identifies patients most likely to benefit from ERAS protocols.
A reference for clinicians and students, not medical advice. A score supports a decision; it does not make one. Check every result against the patient in front of you and your local protocol.
At a glance
- Specialty
- Surgery and anaesthesia
- Inputs
- 9
- Type
- Formula
