ADVICE

Consider admission to a closely monitored setting (ICU, stepdown unit) for patients with low Surgical Apgar Scores as they are high risk for requiring ICU-level care within the next 72 hours.

• For patients with scores ≥7, consider usual care.
• Patients with scores ≤6, consider close observation with a low threshold for testing if signs of surgical complication develop.
• Patients with a score ≤4 are very high risk and often warrant ICU-level monitoring.