Inspiring Change: a report on acute non-invasive ventilation.

The British Thoracic Society audit of non-invasive ventilation has shown that mortality rates are higher than expected and increasing. The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death undertook a detailed analysis of data from 432 patients treated with acute non-invasive ventilation to identify how clinical aspects of non-invasive ventilation treatment could be improved. The study 'Inspiring Change' was published in July 2017.

Preoperative renal dysfunction and mortality after non-cardiac surgery.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is an important preoperative risk factor. However, the association between renal dysfunction and risk of death has not been well explored in non-cardiac surgery.

Methods: Two prospective observational studies in non-cardiac surgery were analysed: the European Surgical Outcomes Study (EuSOS) and the UK National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD).

Development and validation of the Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT).

Background: Existing risk stratification tools have limitations and clinical experience suggests they are not used routinely. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a preoperative risk stratification tool to predict 30-day mortality after non-cardiac surgery in adults by analysis of data from the observational National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) Knowing the Risk study.

Methods: The data set was split into derivation and validation cohorts.