A Pattern and Incidence Study of Complications after Emergency Laparotomy

Background and Objectives: The study of emergency laparotomies are being carried out prospectively at the Department of General Surgery at a tertiary care facility affiliated with the Parul Institute of Medical Science and Research (Parul Sevasharam Hospital).

Methods: A tertiary care teaching hospital’s Department of General Surgery conducted a prospective study involving 100 emergency laparotomy cases from July 2020 to May 2021. Every patient underwent surgery using a midline vertical incision.

The main aim of the study is to identify various complications occurring following emergency laparotomies and various factors influencing them.

All patients followed up at least for a period of 6 months after surgery.

Results: 60 patients developed one or more complications postoperatively, 19 (31.7%) patients had abdominal complications; 34 (56.7%) had wound complications; 12 (20%) had chest complications and 4 (6.7%) had limb complications

Conclusion: Even with the availability of safe anaesthetic, broad range of antibiotics, and advanced experimental or investigational devices, the risk of complications and mortality from emergency laparotomies remains significant. Chest problems were associated with a higher postoperative mortality rate than wound, limb, or abdomen complications.