Emergency Laparotomies and Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic - a Retrospective Cohort Study

NLR has previously been observed to correlate with complications in upper GI (1) and colorectal (2) surgery. The investigators sought to assess if a similar correlation can be identified in emergency general surgical patients and if the presence of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 may impact on this.

Given the heterogeneity of emergency general surgery the investigators therefore plan to perform a retrospective review of patients having emergency laparotomies only at a single NHS site during COVID-19 pandemic. Assessment of outcomes and Neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of outcomes will be completed. Outcomes will be completed in line with the recent COVIDSurg study criteria (3). The primary outcome is 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes are 7-day mortality, re-operation, length of stay, post-operative respiratory failure, post-operative ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), post-operative sepsis and ITU (Intensive Therapy Unit)/HDU (High Dependency Unit) admission.