title: Emergency laparotomy in high risk general surgical patients: a review of perioperative care.
abstract: High risk general surgical patients account for the largest proportion of surgical deaths. There is concern from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) and National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) that these patients may receive suboptimal care. Patients undergoing an emergency laparotomy were identified and the notes reviewed; patients had high observed and predicted mortalities. Consultant involvement, patient consent and nutritional planning were all assessed. An agreed method of patient identification and quantification of risk was recommended. The use of an emergency laparotomy proforma was suggested.
authors: North Western Deanery. sophyrymaruk@hotmail.com
authors: Sophy
authors: S
authors: Rymaruk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D004630:Emergencies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D012189:Retrospective Studies