title: Factors affecting morbidity in emergency general surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency status adversely affects surgical outcomes. Predictors of increased morbidity of emergency general surgery are unknown. We determined predictors of postoperative complications of emergency general surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of Brigham and Women's Hospital American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program patients who had an emergency general surgery procedure from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009. Additional non-American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program variables were collected. Our primary outcome was postoperative complications within 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 819 cases, 24.7% had 1 or more complications, with 8.9% mortality within 30 days. Common complications were respiratory (47%) and wound occurrences (18%). Age, sex, blood glucose level, creatinine level, albumin level, surgery duration, and smoking were independent predictors of morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergency general surgery patients with postoperative complications are likely to be older, male, smokers, have increased blood glucose and creatinine levels, lower albumin levels, and longer surgical times. Fluid resuscitation and experienced surgical teams are putative targets to improve outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akinbami
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panizales
authors.forename: Selwyn O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine