The Emergency Laparotomy Protocol: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Morbidity and Mortality After the Introduction of a Perioperative Protocol for Emergency Laparotomies

BACKGROUND: Emergency laparotomy and its perioperative care is associated with high morbidity and mortality. At our institution, 30-day mortality was approximately 12% in 2013-2017. We introduced a perioperative protocol for emergency laparotomies in 2019. METHOD: Retrospective cohort of emergency laparotomies 2019-2022. Reoperations, trauma and converted laparoscopies (appendectomy and cholecystectomy) were excluded. Primary outcome was mortality at 30, 90, and 180 days. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo; CD) and hospital-based outcomes. RESULTS: Six hundred eighty-two patients undergoing emergency laparotomy were included. Age was 72 (IQR 23) years and 66.4% (n = 453) were aged ≥ 65 years 56.6% (n = 386) were ASA class III or IV and 6.5% (n = 44) were not living at home at admission. The most frequent surgical findings were bowel obstruction (64.2%; n = 438) and gastrointestinal perforations (n = 134; 19.4%). Stoma creation (29.9%; n = 204), adhesiolysis (28.6%; n = 195), and anastomosis (27.4%; n = 187) were common. Mortality at 30 days was 6.9% (n = 47), 90 days 11.0% (n = 75), and 180 days 12.8% (n = 87). Mortality was higher for patients ≥ 80 years than < 65 years (23.9% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.001). Mortality predictors were admission not from home (p = 0.043), disseminated cancer (p < 0.001), and septic shock (p = 0.003) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (p = 0.017). CD IIIb-IVb occurred in 81 patients (11.9%). ICU admission was 16.6% (n = 113) and LOS 8 (IQR 7) days. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality and complication rates after the introduction of a perioperative emergency laparotomy protocol were low despite a comorbid aged-patient cohort. Particular focus on the elderly, frail, and septic patients considered for emergency laparotomy is recommended.