operative mortality
Death occurring within a specified period after surgery, typically 30 or 90 days postoperatively.
Full Definition
Operative mortality refers to death that occurs within a defined timeframe following a surgical procedure, most commonly measured as 30-day or 90-day mortality rates. This metric serves as an important quality indicator for surgical procedures and is used to compare outcomes between institutions, surgeons, and treatment approaches. Operative mortality may result from surgical complications, underlying patient comorbidities, or the natural progression of disease. It is distinguished from overall mortality, which includes deaths from any cause over longer follow-up periods.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify the timeframe (30-day, 90-day, etc.) when reporting mortality rates.
In Context
- "The operative mortality rate for pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution is below 3%." — quality assurance report
- "Despite the complex resection, the patient avoided operative mortality and recovered well." — surgical case summary