Higher Mortality Rates and Complications Found in Cirrhotic Trauma Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy

This retrospective cohort study analyzed the outcomes of adult trauma patients with liver cirrhosis (lc) who underwent laparotomy or non-operative management (nom). Among 929 patients, 38.2% underwent laparotomy and 61.7% received nom. Patients who underwent laparotomy had higher in-hospital mortality rates (52.3% vs 20.0%), increased rates of acute renal failure, required more blood transfusions, and had longer ICU stays compared to those who received nom. Therefore, cirrhotic trauma patients undergoing emergency laparotomy face higher mortality rates and complications than those managed non-operatively.