The effect of early warning scoring systems on adverse outcome in surgical patients: A systematic review

Annick Stolze1, Tara N M Woolley-Hendriks2, Yara Bassa1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Insights

Early warning scoring systems may reduce mortality and ICU admissions in surgical patients, but evidence is limited. More high-quality trials are needed to confirm the benefits of these systems for patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Clinical informatics
  • Patient safety

Background:

  • Early warning scoring systems aim to identify patient deterioration early.
  • Preventing failure-to-rescue is a key goal in hospitalized patients.
  • This review focuses on the impact of these systems in surgical populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the effect of early warning scoring systems on adverse outcomes in surgical patients.
  • To assess the current evidence for the efficacy of these systems in improving patient safety.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
  • Searched multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library) up to June 2023.
  • Included randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies evaluating early warning scoring systems with spot-check monitoring.

Main Results:

  • Eight studies were included, with two randomized controlled trials; overall risk of bias was high.
  • Three studies showed a significant decrease in mortality.
  • Decreases in cardiopulmonary arrests and ICU admissions were reported in some studies, but with heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence supporting early warning scoring systems in surgical patients is low due to limited studies and design flaws.
  • Further well-designed trials are necessary to conclusively determine the impact on patient outcomes.
  • Improved study design is crucial for validating the effectiveness of these systems.
Abstract