Grade I:

Any deviation from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacological treatment or surgical, endoscopic and radiological interventions.

Grade I:

Allowed therapeutic regimens are: drugs as antiemetics, antipyretics, analgetics, diuretics and electrolytes and physiotherapy. This grade also includes wound infections opened at the bedside.

Grade II:

Requiring pharmacological treatment with drugs other than such allowed for grade I complications. Blood transfusions and total parenteral nutrition are also included.

Grade III:

Requiring surgical, endoscopic or radiological intervention

Grade III:

Grade III-a:

intervention not under general anesthesia

Grade III-b:

intervention under general anesthesia

Grade IV:

Life-threatening complication (including CNS complications)‡ requiring IC/ICU-management

Grade IV:

Grades IVa & IVb

Grade IV-a:

single organ dysfunction (including dialysis)

Grade IV-b:

multi organ dysfunction

Grade V:

Death of a patient

Grade V:

If the patients suffers from a complication at the time of discharge, the suffix “d” (for ‘disability’) is added to the respective grade of complication. This label indicates the need for a follow-up to fully evaluate the complication.