Data related to the second part of the instrument was analysed and categorized into seven definitions that shared a basic framework. In the third part of the instrument, experts generated 45 risk factors, 5 of which were fictitious. In total, 68·27% (n = 127) of all risk factors were suggested by the experts, with each expert providing a mean of nine risk factors. In addition, 30·48% (n= 25) of all risk factors suggested by the experts were equivalent to those found in a literature search. Of all factors proposed by the experts, 25·19% (n= 32) were not included in the instrument because they represented defining characteristics or factors related to increased cardiac output instead of vulnerability for DCO.