Grades	Definition
Grade I	Any deviation from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacological treatment or surgical, endoscopic and radiological interventions.
Grade I	Allowed therapeutic regimens are: drugs as antiemetics, antipyretics, analgetics, diuretics and electrolytes and physiotherapy. This grade also includes wound infections opened at the bedside.
Grade II	Requiring pharmacological treatment with drugs other than such allowed for Grade I complications.
Grade II	Blood transfusions and total parenteral nutrition are also included.
Grade III	Requiring surgical, endoscopic or radiological intervention.
IIIa	Intervention not under general anesthesia.
IIIb	Intervention under general anesthesia.
Grade IV	Life-threatening complication (including CNS complications)^‡ requiring IC/ICU-management.
Iva	Single organ dysfunction (including dialysis).
IVb	Multi organ dysfunction.
Grade V	Death of a patient.
Suffix “d”	If the patient suffers from a complication at the time of discharge, the suffix “d” (for “disability”) is added to the respective grade of complication. This label indicates the need for a follow-up to fully evaluate the complication.