Emergency Laparotomy

Emergency laparotomy is a high-risk procedure that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly patient.

This project aims to bring together clinicians from relevant specialities and help achieve a consensus of opinion on best practice in order to improve outcome.

In patients undergoing emergency laparotomy, mortality rates are higher in those who do not have a preoperative risk assessment score; 75% of patient in the UK undergoing emergency laparotomy have a preoperative risk assessment score recorded. The project aims is to increase the use of preoperative risk assessment score recording in Ireland from 13% to 70% by the end of 2019.

This project is a national quality improvement project led by surgical trainees on the National Surgical Training Programme. 20 surgical trainees across 11 Irish hospitals are involved. Within their training hospitals, the trainees are actively promoting the use of simple perioperative risk calculator tools prior to an emergency laparotomy procedure being performed.

If you have any queries about this project, please contact Deirdre Nally.

Alternatively, you can download the projects recommended preoperative risk assessment apps NELA or SORT.