Impact of routine pre-operative risk assessment on patients undergoing emergency major abdominal surgery in a regional Victorian hospital.

Background: Routine preoperative risk assessment (RPRA) using objective risk prediction tools may improve the perioperative outcomes of emergency major abdominal surgery (EMAS). This project aims to identify whether the introduction of RPRA with the 'National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) Calculator' as standard-of-care for EMAS at a regional Victorian hospital has improved postoperative outcomes, reduced unplanned postoperative critical care unit (CCU) admission rates, and impacted the 'no-lap' rate.

Methods: An audit was performed including all adult general surgery patients who required EMAS at Bendigo Health between September 2017 and August 2022, including those palliated up-front.