Post-Operative Complications After Emergency Laparotomy

The emergency laparotomy is a useful surgical manoeuvre in the armamentarium of management strategies of the modern acute care surgeon. It may be used to deal with a spectrum of clinical diseases, including intra-abdominal haemorrhages and various septic pathologies. Despite the improvement in surgical techniques and perioperative care, the morbidity and mortality associated with emergency laparotomy remain high. Furthermore, significant geographic variations exist, depending on the surgical network attending the patient. This chapter discusses the common complications following emergency laparotomy with management strategies. There are also illustrations of cases from the authors’ personal experience dealing with complications and potential pitfalls are highlighted.