title: Use of a care bundle to reduce mortality following emergency laparotomy.
abstract: Emergency laparotomy is a common intra-abdominal procedure with outcomes recognized to be poor. Efforts are being made to improve these outcomes, both nationally and internationally. This article describes the methodology of a successfully implemented collaborative quality improvement project that improved outcomes following emergency laparotomy in four NHS trusts.
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XX.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Quiney
authors.affiliation: Senior Registrar in Anaesthesia, St George's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huddart
authors.affiliation: Associate Medical Director for Quality Improvement, Royal United Hospital Bath.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peden
authors.affiliation: Consultant Anaesthetist, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009026:Mortality; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D064872:Patient Care Bundles / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061665:Time-to-Treatment