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Home › Conditions › Postoperative Complications

Postoperative Complications

Subtypes of Postoperative Complications

Surgical Site Infection 10 Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury 9 Anastomotic Leak 1 Low Anterior Resection Syndrome 1 Postoperative hemorrhage 1

22 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Postoperative Complications

36 trials tracked for Postoperative Complications: 10 in phase 3 or 4 and 5 with published results. The most-cited published study has 158 citations.

36Trials tracked
10Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
5With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 8 Phase 3 2 Phase 2 2 Other / NA 24
  1. Phase 4 Dexmedetomidine and Delirium in Patients After Cardiac Surgery Completed · 158 cited
  2. Phase 4 The Effect of Sugammadex Versus Neostigmine on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Completed · 151 cited
  3. Phase 3 Glutamate for Metabolic Intervention in Coronary Surgery II Completed · 14 cited
  4. Phase 4 High vs Low Dose Dexamethasone on Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Phase Completed · 12 cited
  5. Phase 4 Sugammadex To IMprove Bowel Function Completed · 3 cited
  6. Phase 4 Local Anesthesia Versus Saline Serum in Surgical Incision of Colorectal or Hepatic Surgery Completed
Show 30 more trials
  1. Phase 4 Effect of Neuromuscular Blockade on Pulmonary Complications in Elective Cardiac Surgery Completed
  2. Phase 4 High vs Low Dose Dexamethasone on Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Phase After Mastectomy Completed
  3. Phase 4 Effect of Low-Dose Dexamethasone on the Incidence of Hyperglycemia Following Surgery Completed
  4. Phase 3 Ketorolac as an Adjuvant Agent for Postoperative Pain Control Following Arthroscopic Meniscus Surgery Completed
  5. Phase 2 The Effect of Caffeine on Postextubation Adverse Respiratory Events in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Completed
  6. Phase 2 Does a Transabdominal Plane Block Decrease Patient Pain After Ventral Hernia Repair? Completed
  7. N/A Low Pressure Pneumoperitoneum and Deep Neuromuscular Block vs. Standard During RARP to Improve Quality of Recovery; a Randomized Controlled Study. Completed
  8. N/A Fast-track Surgery After Gynecological Oncology Surgery Completed
  9. N/A Dilute Betadine Soak and Scrub for Foot and Ankle Surgery Completed
  10. N/A A Study to Determine if Carbon Dioxide Lavage During Total Knee Surgery Reduces Intraoperative Embolic Events Completed
  11. N/A Prospective Clinical Evaluation of High-Purity Type I Collagen in Select High-Risk Hernia Repair Scenarios Completed
  12. N/A Patient Morbidity After Palatal Free Gingival Grafts With or Without PRF Membranes Coverage Completed
  13. N/A Visits Versus Telephone Calls for Postoperative Care Completed
  14. N/A Effect of Goal-directed Crystalloid Versus Colloid Administration on Major Postoperative Morbidity Completed
  15. N/A Using Dexpanthenol Cream to Prevent Lip Corner Cracks in Children After Tonsil/Adenoid Surgery Completed
  16. N/A Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy Versus Standard of Care Surgical Dressing in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Completed
  17. N/A Closed-Loop Fluid Administration System Using Hemodynamic Monitors Completed
  18. N/A Clinical Trial Comparing Conventional and Robot-assisted(Da Vinci®)Laparoscopic Interventions for Hysterectomy Completed
  19. N/A Spontaneous Void Requirements for Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Anorectal Surgery Completed
  20. N/A Postoperative Delirium: Brain Vulnerability and Recovery Completed
  21. N/A Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Obese Gynecologic Oncology Patients Completed
  22. N/A Efficacy Side-effect Score (ESS): Development and Evaluation of a New Tool for Patients After Surgery Completed
  23. N/A TAPP Inguinal Hernia Repair With Self-fixating Parietex™ ProGrip™ Mesh Completed
  24. N/A Hemodynamic and Respiratory Variations During Laparoscopic Surgery With and Without Deep Neuromuscular Blockade. Completed
  25. N/A Trendelenburg's Slide Prevention Study Completed
  26. N/A Impact of Anesthesiology Interventions on Postoperative Outcomes in Adult Patients Undergoing Shoulder Surgery Completed
  27. N/A Risk Factors Predicting Serious Complications With Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery Completed
  28. N/A A Trial To Assess Risk of Delirium in Older Adults Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery With Spinal or General Anesthesia Completed
  29. N/A Comparative Effectiveness of Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Outpatient Shoulder Surgery Completed
  30. N/A REPLACE: Implantable Cardiac Pulse Generator Replacement Registry Completed

Showing the 36 most-cited and recently-updated of 36 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found Updated — new results For clinicians

Postoperative Complications: what the trials found

Clinical trials evaluating dexmedetomidine hydrochloride for injection showed no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative delirium (p=0.341), cognitive function (p=0.830), or non-delirium complications after surgery (p=0.214) 2.

The administration of Sugammadex resulted in a significantly faster time to reach a Train of Four (TOF) ratio of ≥ 0.9 compared to the comparison group (5.2 vs. 17.5 minutes; p<0.001), while showing no significant difference in gastric emptying (p=0.58) or gastrointestinal complications (p=0.087) 5.

Dexamethasone did not significantly impact the number of participants with moderate to severe postoperative pain (p=0.248), length of stay in the PACU (p=0.519), or hospital length of stay (p=0.468) 4. Additionally, dexamethasone showed no significant difference in transfer to the PACU (p=1) or discharge scores at both the operating room and PACU arrival 6.

Succinylcholine was associated with significantly different surgical conditions (p=0.02), but did not show a statistically significant difference in the number of participants with postoperative pulmonary complications (p=1.00) 7.

Glutamate infusion showed no significant difference in postoperative plasma levels of NT-proBNP (p=0.36) or the postoperative increase of plasma NT-proBNP (p=0.86) 10.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • High-Purity Type I Collagen Mesh was associated with a decrease in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores from 6.0 to 2.9 1.
  • Dexpanthenol 5% Topical Ointment was associated with lower postoperative pain scores compared to the control group (4.48 vs. 2.38) 14.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride does not appear to significantly alter delirium rates or cognitive outcomes in the postoperative period 2.
  • Sugammadex provides a statistically significant reduction in time to reach a TOF ratio of ≥ 0.9 following administration 5.
  • Dexamethasone did not demonstrate significant clinical impact on pain severity, PACU stay, or total hospital length of stay [4, 6].

AI synthesis of 8 cited trials, updated Jun 21, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Genistein potentially provides multi-organ protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury through multiple signaling pathways
Drug Pipeline Sys. Review
Genistein potentially provides multi-organ protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury through multiple signaling pathways Genistein shows potential to protect multiple organs from injury
This narrative review with systematic literature identification explores the role of genistein and its derivatives in preclinical models of …
Research in animal models suggests genistein may protect the brain, kidneys, liver, and intestines from damage caused by a lack of blood flo…
Frontiers Jun 20, 2026
Nursing process-oriented bundled interventions and digital monitoring may improve surgical site infection prevention
Rheumatology Sys. Review
Nursing process-oriented bundled interventions and digital monitoring may improve surgical site infection prevention Nursing Pathways and Digital Tools Help Prevent Surgical Site Infections
This narrative review examines nursing-led strategies, including bundled interventions and digital tools like AI triage and remote wound mon…
A continuous nursing pathway using digital tools and risk-stratified care may help prevent infections after surgery.
Frontiers Jun 9, 2026
Meta-Analysis Shows No SSI Difference Between Chlorhexidine and Povidone Iodine for Vaginal Antisepsis
OB/GYN & Women's Health Meta-analysis
Meta-Analysis Shows No SSI Difference Between Chlorhexidine and Povidone Iodine for Vaginal Antisepsis Vaginal cleaning with chlorhexidine does not prevent infections better than iodine in major gynecologic surgeries
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated vaginal antisepsis in 9538 patients undergoing major gynecologic operations. The analysis…
A large review of nearly 10,000 patients found that using chlorhexidine for vaginal cleaning did not lower infection risk compared to iodine…
medRxiv May 28, 2026
Meta-analysis shows lower prosthetic joint infection odds with cephalosporins versus non-cephalosporin prophylaxis in primary arthroplasty
Infectious Disease Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis shows lower prosthetic joint infection odds with cephalosporins versus non-cephalosporin prophylaxis in primary arthroplasty Cephalosporins lower prosthetic joint infection risk in primary hip and knee replacements
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated single-agent cephalosporin prophylaxis against non-cephalosporin antibiotics in adults un…
A large review of over 200,000 surgeries found lower infection rates when using cephalosporins for prevention.
May 21, 2026
Intrawound tobramycin plus vancomycin did not reduce deep infection risk compared with vancomycin alone in high-risk tibial fractures
Infectious Disease RCT
Intrawound tobramycin plus vancomycin did not reduce deep infection risk compared with vancomycin alone in high-risk tibial fractures Adding Antibiotics to Bone Surgery Didn't Lower Infection Risk
This randomized clinical trial evaluated adults with operatively treated periarticular tibial fractures at elevated infection risk. Among 16…
A major trial found that adding a second antibiotic powder directly into bone fractures during surgery failed to lower infection rates compa…
JAMA May 12, 2026
Dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement reduces surgical site infection risk in cemented hip arthroplasty patients compared to single cement
Infectious Disease Meta-analysis
Dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement reduces surgical site infection risk in cemented hip arthroplasty patients compared to single cement Dual antibiotic cement cuts infection risk for hip surgery patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement versus single antibiotic-loaded bone cement in patient…
A large analysis shows dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement significantly lowers surgical site infection risk compared to single antibiotic ve…
May 1, 2026
Meta-analysis: Postoperative oral antibiotics reduce cellulitis after cesarean in obese women
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis: Postoperative oral antibiotics reduce cellulitis after cesarean in obese women Adding two antibiotics may lower cellulitis risk for obese women having C-sections
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 1144 obese women undergoing cesarean delivery found that adding postoperative oral cephalexin an…
A large review found adding oral cephalexin and metronidazole to standard care significantly reduced cellulitis in obese women after C-secti…
May 1, 2026
Review suggests low-dose ozone pretreatment may enhance antioxidant systems and reduce inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury
Drug Pipeline Sys. Review
Review suggests low-dose ozone pretreatment may enhance antioxidant systems and reduce inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury Low-dose ozone pretreatment may protect cells from injury by boosting natural defenses
This narrative review synthesizes evidence regarding low-dose ozone pretreatment as a theoretical approach to ischemia-reperfusion injury.
A review suggests low-dose ozone pretreatment boosts the body's natural antioxidant defenses and reduces inflammation, offering theoretical …
Frontiers Apr 29, 2026
Diabetes and age increase surgical site infection risk in spinal surgery patients based on a multicenter cohort
Diabetes & Endocrinology Cohort
Diabetes and age increase surgical site infection risk in spinal surgery patients based on a multicenter cohort Researchers find diabetes and age raise infection risk after spinal surgery
This retrospective cohort study analyzed 1,049 patients who underwent spinal surgeries at multiple centers.
Spinal surgery patients with diabetes or older age face significantly higher risks of surgical site infections during recovery.
Frontiers Apr 29, 2026
Narrative review discusses ischemia-reperfusion injury mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies
Drug Pipeline Sys. Review
Narrative review discusses ischemia-reperfusion injury mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies Heart and Brain Damage After Blood Flow Loss May Be Linked by Shared Cell Death Pathways
This narrative review addresses myocardial and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
This research reveals how heart and brain cells may die together through linked pathways, opening new doors for treatments that protect both…
Frontiers Apr 24, 2026
Translational review of oxidative stress interventions in experimental ischemia-reperfusion injury models
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Meta-analysis
Translational review of oxidative stress interventions in experimental ischemia-reperfusion injury models Saving Tissue After Surgery: A New Plan to Stop Damage
This translational mechanistic synthesis review evaluates interventions targeting the oxidative stress–inflammation–microvascular dysfunctio…
Stopping damage when blood returns after surgery helps patients needing skin or tissue transfers for reconstruction, research shows.
Frontiers Apr 20, 2026
Narrative review explores metformin and trimetazidine in cardiovascular conditions
Cardiology Sys. Review
Narrative review explores metformin and trimetazidine in cardiovascular conditions The Hidden Cell Death Process Quietly Driving Heart Disease
This narrative review examines the roles of metformin and trimetazidine in cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, vascular calcification,…
A specific type of cell death driven by iron and fat damage plays a key role in multiple heart conditions, including heart failure and ather…
Frontiers Apr 18, 2026

All Postoperative Complications Articles