ARISCAT Score for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications
ARISCAT Score
Age
Preoperative SpO₂
Respiratory Infection in Last Month
Preoperative Anemia (≤10 g/dL)
Surgical Incision
Duration of Surgery
Emergency Procedure
ARISCAT Score:
0
Low Risk
ARISCAT score <26. Low risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (1.6%).
Predicts risk of pulmonary complications after surgery, including respiratory failure.
When to Use
Patients undergoing surgery under general, neuraxial, or regional anesthesia.
Formula
Addition of the selected points: Variable Points Age, years ≤50 0 51-80 3 >80 16 Preoperative SpO 2 ≥96% 0 91-95% 8 ≤90% 24 Respiratory infection in the last month* No 0 Yes 17 Preoperative anemia (Hgb ≤10 g/dL) No 0 Yes 11 Surgical incision Peripheral 0 Upper abdominal 15 Intrathoracic 24 Duration of surgery <2 hrs 0 2-3 hrs 16 >3 hrs 23 Emergency procedure No 0 Yes 8 *Either upper or lower (i.e., URI, bronchitis, pneumonia), with fever and antibiotic treatment.
Advice
May guide decision-making to reduce risk of postoperative pulmonary complications and encourage preventative strategies such as considering non-surgical procedures, delaying the surgery, shortening the time for surgery, or using tissue-sparing approaches.
More Information
Interpretation: ARISCAT Score Risk Group Risk of In-Hospital Postoperative Pulmonary Complications* <26 Low 1.6% 26–44 Intermediate 13.3% ≥45 High 42.1% *Complications were defined as a composite including respiratory failure, respiratory infection, pleural effusion, atelectasis on chest x-ray, pneumothorax, bronchospasm treated with bronchodilators, and aspiration pneumonitis.