Nationwide study confirms that emergency laparotomy is a procedure with high risk of complications and mortality

Nationwide study based on observations from almost 50 000 patients undergoing emergency laparotomy in Denmark from 2003 to 2013 describes short- and long-term outcomes. Approximately one in four patients experienced a postoperative complication and 30-days postoperative mortality was 13%. The authors call for studies examining predictive factors for adverse outcomes in order to design preventive medical or organizational measures.