Abstract

Recovery After Emergency Laparotomy: A Service Evaluation

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Abstract

Emergency laparotomy and laparoscopy for non-traumatic pathologies are common surgical procedures affecting over 28,000 patients every year in England and Wales. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) collects data on patient characteristics and perioperative care. Since its inception there have been demonstrable improvements in aspects of care, but in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay have plateaued at 9.3% and 11 days respectively. DrEaMing (Drinking, Eating and Mobilising) is a simple care bundle designed to contribute to the early restoration of normal physiological homeostasis in postoperative patients and has been incorporated into many elective surgery enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs). In a study of over 22,000 patients undergoing major elective surgery, delivery of DrEaMing within 24 hours post-surgery was associated with a three-day shorter median hospital length of stay and fewer major complications. It is unknown to what extent elements of ERPs can be incorporated into emergency surgery care pathways and there have been calls to evaluate this with further research. Recent consensus guidelines for emergency laparotomy patients include prioritisation of early mobilisation and early feeding. We report the feasibility of collecting data on DrEaMing rates in emergency laparotomy patients and describe associated barriers to DrEaMing implementation in this cohort of patients.

Keywords: emergency laparotomy, DrEaMing, postoperative patients, enhanced recovery programmes

How to Cite: McGrath, G., Gallop, L., Murphy, L., Leckie, T., Hodgson, L., (2026). Recovery After Emergency Laparotomy: A Service Evaluation. In: Abstracts of EBPOM Dingle, Ireland Conference 2025: 16-18 September 2025, Dingle, Ireland. Advances in Perioperative Care: UCL Press; 2026. Pp 1-4. DOI: 10.14324/111.444/apoc.ebpomdingle25.a2

Rights: Author, [2026]