POSSUM

More about: POSSUM

What it calculates

The “POSSUM” calculator computes Mortality risk (POSSUM) in % from 18 parameters: age (years), cardiac: 1 normal, 2 cardiac drugs, 3 edema/warfarin, 4 raised jvp/cardiomegaly, respiratory: 1 normal, 2 dyspnea on exertion, 3 dyspnea on one flight of stairs, 4 dyspnea at rest, systolic bp (mmHg), pulse (bpm), glasgow coma scale (points), hemoglobin (g/L), white blood cells (×10⁹/L), urea (mmol/L), sodium (mmol/L), potassium (mmol/L), ecg: 1 normal, 2 af 60–90/min, 3 other abnormality, operative severity: 1 minor, 2 moderate, 3 major, 4 major+, number of procedures, blood loss (mL), peritoneal soiling: 1 none, 2 serous fluid, 3 local pus, 4 free bowel content/pus/blood, malignancy: 1 none, 2 primary only, 3 nodal metastases, 4 distant metastases, urgency: 1 elective, 2 emergency (2–24 h), 3 immediate (<2 h).

Used by professionals and patients to assess health metrics, dosages, and risks.

Example calculation

With parameters Age = 55 years, Cardiac: 1 normal, 2 cardiac drugs, 3 edema/warfarin, 4 raised JVP/cardiomegaly = 1, Respiratory: 1 normal, 2 dyspnea on exertion, 3 dyspnea on one flight of stairs, 4 dyspnea at rest = 1, Systolic BP = 120 mmHg, Pulse = 75 bpm, Glasgow Coma Scale = 15 points, Hemoglobin = 140 g/L, White blood cells = 7 ×10⁹/L, Urea = 5 mmol/L, Sodium = 140 mmol/L, Potassium = 4.2 mmol/L, ECG: 1 normal, 2 AF 60–90/min, 3 other abnormality = 1, Operative severity: 1 minor, 2 moderate, 3 major, 4 major+ = 3, Number of procedures = 1, Blood loss = 100 mL, Peritoneal soiling: 1 none, 2 serous fluid, 3 local pus, 4 free bowel content/pus/blood = 1, Malignancy: 1 none, 2 primary only, 3 nodal metastases, 4 distant metastases = 1, Urgency: 1 elective, 2 emergency (2–24 h), 3 immediate (<2 h) = 1 the result is 1.7 % (30-day prediction; POSSUM overestimates risk in low-risk patients).

How to use

1. Enter age, cardiac: 1 normal, 2 cardiac drugs, 3 edema/warfarin, 4 raised jvp/cardiomegaly, respiratory: 1 normal, 2 dyspnea on exertion, 3 dyspnea on one flight of stairs, 4 dyspnea at rest, systolic bp, pulse, glasgow coma scale, hemoglobin, white blood cells, urea, sodium, potassium, ecg: 1 normal, 2 af 60–90/min, 3 other abnormality, operative severity: 1 minor, 2 moderate, 3 major, 4 major+, number of procedures, blood loss, peritoneal soiling: 1 none, 2 serous fluid, 3 local pus, 4 free bowel content/pus/blood, malignancy: 1 none, 2 primary only, 3 nodal metastases, 4 distant metastases and urgency: 1 elective, 2 emergency (2–24 h), 3 immediate (<2 h) — each field above is adjustable with a slider.
2. Mortality risk (POSSUM) (%) is calculated automatically as you type.
3. Check the worked example below to see the formula applied to real numbers.
4. Copy the result or bookmark this calculator.

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