Consensus Statements on Definition, Components and Grading of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications

An international team of experts is working on a project called PrECiSIOn to develop a clear, consistent definition of PPCs. The goals of this study are to: * Define postoperative pulmonary complications in a way that makes sense for patients, families, and healthcare providers. * Rank complications by severity so doctors can focus on the most serious ones first. * Decide how and when to monitor patients after surgery to catch problems early.

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased mortality, and significant clinical and economic burdens. Despite their importance, the definition of PPCs varies across studies, leading to inconsistencies in reported incidence rates and research outcomes. Existing definitions, such as the EPCO criteria, have been developed based on expert opinion but lack systematic consensus-building methods. To address these limitations, the StEP collaboration conducted a systematic review and Delphi process to refine PPC classifications. However, challenges remain, including the lack of universal definitions, hierarchical ranking of complications, and representation from diverse healthcare settings. Composite outcome measures improve statistical power but may obscure differences in severity and clinical significance among PPC subtypes. The PrECiSIOn Delphi initiative aims to develop an expert consensus on defining PPCs, grading their severity, and determining standardized monitoring methods. The goal is to create a valid, reliable, and universally accepted patient-centered definition of PPCs that enhances comparability across studies and informs clinical decision-making.