Implementing Bundle Care in Major Abdominal Emergency Surgery: Long-Term Mortality and Comprehensive Complication Index

Background Major abdominal emergency surgery (MAES) has a high risk of postoperative mortality and a high complication rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the implementation of a perioperative care bundle reduced long-term mortality and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) after MAES. Methods This study was a single-centre retrospective cohort study. Data in the intervention group were collected prospectively and compared with a historical cohort from the same centre. It includes adult patients undergoing MAES. We implemented a care bundle under the name Abdominal Surgery Acute Protocol (ASAP). We initiated fast-track initiatives and standardised optimised care in before, during and after surgery. Data were analysed using survival analysis and multiple regression. Results We included 120 patients in the intervention cohort and 258 in the historical cohort. The one-year mortality rate was 21.7% in the intervention cohort compared to 28.3% in the standard care cohort. Adjusted odds ratio of one-year mortality 0.81 (CI95% 0.41–1.56). The 30-day mortality was lowered from 19.0 to 6.7% ( p = 0.003). The CCI in the intervention cohort was 8.7 (IQR 0–34) compared to 21 (IQR 0–36) in the control cohort ( p = 0.932) The length of stay increased by two days ( p = 0.021). Most cases had 71–80% protocol compliance. Conclusion Implementing bundle care in major abdominal emergency surgery lowered the 30-day postoperative mortality. The difference in mortality was preserved over time although not significant after one year. The changes in the Comprehensive Complication Index were not statistically significant.