Clinical Outcomes of Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Retrospective Observational Study

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Background: Emergency abdominal surgery is associated with substantial postoperative morbidity and mortality because patients frequently present with perforation, intestinal obstruction, trauma, ischemia, sepsis, and associated physiological derangements. The present study evaluated the clinical profile and short-term outcomes of patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery at a tertiary care hospital.[1-3] Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, PSP Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, over a one-year period from 15 January 2023 to 15 January 2024. A total of 120 patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery through open laparotomy were included. Demographic characteristics, indications for surgery, comorbidities, intraoperative findings, postoperative complications, ICU admission, duration of ICU stay, hospital stay, and 30-day mortality were assessed.[1-3] Results: Among 120 patients, 82 (68.3%) were male and 38 (31.7%) were female. The largest age group was 46–60 years (40, 33.3%), followed by 31–45 years (32, 26.7%),>60 years (30, 25.0%), and 18–30 years (18, 15.0%). Perforation peritonitis was the most common preoperative diagnosis (52, 43.3%), followed by intestinal obstruction (38, 31.7%) and abdominal trauma (18, 15.0%). Intraoperative findings included hollow viscus perforation in 50 patients (41.7%), adhesive obstruction in 22 (18.3%), strangulated hernia in 16 (13.3%), trauma-related injury in 18 (15.0%), and tubercular ileal obstruction in 10 (8.3%). Hypertension was present in 40 patients (33.3%), diabetes mellitus in 34 (28.3%), COPD in 15 (12.5%), and chronic kidney disease in 10 (8.3%). Postoperative complications included surgical site infection (25.0%), sepsis (16.7%), respiratory complications (15.0%), wound dehiscence (10.0%), anastomotic leak (8.3%), and renal failure (6.7%). ICU admission was reported in 38% of patients, with a mean ICU stay of 4.2 ± 2.1 days. The mean hospital stay was 10.8 ± 4.6 days. Thirty-day mortality was 20 patients (16.7%). Conclusion: Emergency abdominal surgery was associated with substantial postoperative morbidity and mortality in this cohort. Perforation-related disease and intestinal obstruction constituted the major indications for surgery, while surgical site infection, sepsis, and respiratory complications were important postoperative problems. The findings highlight the need for early recognition, timely surgical intervention, appropriate perioperative optimization, and vigilant postoperative monitoring.[1-3]