Anticipating pulmonary complications after thoracotomy: the FLAM Score

Table 3 The 4 classes of risk defined by the FLAM score

FLAM peak value	n	Pulmonary complications	Respiratory Failure	Death
0 – 9	236	8 (3.3%)	0	0
10 – 18	42	32 (76.2%)	6 (18.7%)	1 (3.1%)
19 – 27	8	6 (87.5%)	4 (57.1%)	2 (28.7%)
> 27	14	14 (92.8%)	9 (69.2%)	6 (46.1%)

Considering the highest FLAM value recorded, it was possible to define 4 class with increasing risk of pulmonary complication and severity. It was called "the rule of 9" because class are identified by multiple of nine.

ISSN: 1749-8090