Factors Associated with Early Postoperative Complications in Gastrointestinal Surgeries

Gastrointestinal surgeries´ postoperative complications are significant contributors to patient morbidity and healthcare economic burden. The outcomes could be influenced by some of the factors, such as the patient's demographic characteristics, surgical elements, and perioperative management. Early problems, which usually appear 30 days after surgery, can have a detrimental effect on patient outcomes, lengthen hospital stays, escalate medical expenses, and, in serious cases, cause death. This study aims to identify factors associated with early postoperative complications in gastrointestinal surgeries within the Iraqi population. This is a cross-sectional study that took place in hospitals of the Wasit province during the period from August to the end of December 2024. Two hundred patients of each group who had undergone GI surgeries participated. The questionnaire was pretested before it was sent for data collection. Included the patient's demographics, surgery details, and postoperative outcomes. The data were recorded by direct patient interviews. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS to identify associations between risk factors and complications. Half of the total (100/200) patients were aged between 30 and 50 years old. More than half of those were males (65%) and nonsmokers (60%). The most frequently performed surgeries were cholecystectomy (30%), bowel resection (25%), and appendectomy (20%). Most of these surgeries (70%) were elective and (55%) by laparoscopy. Around a third (30%) of samples reported early postoperative complications; surgical site infection was the most frequent (33.3%). Half (50%) of patients who had complications were aged more than 50 years old with a significant association (P < 0.001). High body mass index (above 30), emergency surgeries, open surgeries, and no prophylactic antibiotics were also associated with early postoperative complications.