Outcomes for operative and nonoperative management for gastrointestinal emergencies

Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions requiring emergency laparotomy are common, but it has been increasingly recognised that many patients never undergo surgery. This study used electronic healthcare records (EHRs) to provide an insight into the number of patients admitted with GI emergencies at a population level. In this paper we present condition specific outcomes for nine common diagnoses that may require emergency laparotomy.