Perioperative Risk Models: A Narrative Review

A variety of perioperative risk models have been published attempting to aid clinical decision making in the perioperative period. The primary goal of such models is to objectively classify risks numerically, or into categories that can be readily understood by clinicians and patients. Some models have been extrapolated from non-surgical patient populations, whereas others have been derived and validated solely in surgical cohorts. We present here a narrative review of key preoperative models developed over time, with the aim of highlighting models and classification tools to aid informed clinical decision making. These models relay general risk assessments as well as problem- or specialty-specific assessments..