Emergency laparotomy risk assessment: An audit of South Australian hospitals

Background: Emergency laparotomy (EL) is associated with high mortality rates and is performed on a heterogenous patient population. Pre-operative risk assessment is one tool which can assist with EL patient care. We aimed to characterise rates of pre-operative risk assessment for EL patients in South Australia. Methods: A retrospective audit of all patients undergoing EL over one year in six participating hospitals in South Australia was undertaken. Patient demographics, operation details, risk assessments (e.g. NELA, POSSUM, ACS-NSQIP) and outcomes were recorded. Results: 422 ELs were audited. Preoperative risk assessments were recorded for 42 (10 %) operations. The 30-day mortality rate was 9 %. There was no difference in mortality rates for patients with or without a risk assessment documented. Hospital participation in the Australia and New Zealand Emergency Laparotomy Audit (ANZELA) was associated with increased rates of risk assessment. Increasing patient age and then presence of certain comorbidities were also associated with increased rates of risk assessment. Conclusions: This audit shows poor uptake of recommendations for preoperative risk assessment in EL patients in South Australia. Comparable mortality rates to previously published Australian and international data are demonstrated. Factors associated with increased risk assessment rates are identified and are relevant to future quality improvement activities.