Emergency laparotomy is a high-risk, high-cost procedure with significant variation in how care is delivered and patient outcomes.
More than 15,000 Australians undergo this emergency major abdominal surgery each year. The estimated mortality rate for the procedure is around 6.2%, rising to more than 20% in older people and people with comorbidities.
Consultation is now open on a draft Emergency Laparotomy Clinical Care Standard, which will help optimise patient outcomes.
The Commission is developing the first national standard for emergency laparotomy, to drive quality improvement in care and ensure timely assessment, diagnosis and surgery for people undergoing the procedure.
Please visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website to submit your feedback.