Perioperative Code Status Limitations and Early Postoperative Mortality: Insights from a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Highlight

This retrospective cohort study of 2833 adults undergoing procedures with anesthesia and preexisting code-status limitations revealed that continuation of non-full code status perioperatively is associated with increased early (3-day) postoperative mortality. The findings emphasize that this higher mortality predominantly results from subsequent transitions to comfort-focused care rather than failures in acute perioperative management. Additionally, patients who remained not full code were more likely to receive invasive hemodynamic monitoring, reflecting intensive care tailored to patient preferences.

Study Background