New research suggests 50 million patients suffer complications after surgery each year

International survey also indicates 1.5 million people die following complications Data gathered in 27 countries is first global evaluation of surgical outcomes and mortality rates Infection of surgical wounds is found to be most frequent complication Survey finds deaths following complications at similar levels in low, middle and high income countries Authors call for hospitals worldwide to work to reduce the incidence of preventable complications Three hundred and ten million patients undergo surgery worldwide each year, but while global initiatives are increasing access to surgical treatment, little data has been compiled about complication rates after surgery. This research by the International Surgical Outcomes Study Group, led by Queen Mary University of London's Professor Rupert Pearse and published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia , provides the first set of comparative statistics at an international level. It indicates that poor patient outcomes are common after planned (elective) in-patient surgery, and that mortality rates following complications are at broadly similar levels in the poorest and wealthiest countries although patient populations may differ. Lead author, Professor Pearse, said: "This survey is the most extensive of its kind ever performed. Whilst most patients having planned surgery did not experience any problems, a large number of patients did develop complications and many of them did not survive." Method Four hundred and seventy four hospitals in 27 high, middle and low income countries* participated over a seven day period and data from 44,814 patients following routine, non-emergency surgery were analysed.