Operative patients experience lower mortality despite more complications.

A study of 32,280 emergency general surgery patients revealed that surgical intervention led to lower risk-adjusted inpatient mortality rates compared to nonoperative management, despite the surgical group experiencing higher complication odds and longer hospital stays. Younger patients and those without preexisting conditions were more likely to undergo surgery, while a higher percentage of uninsured individuals were found in the nonoperated group. These findings underscore the need for improved surgical access and risk stratification in developing countries.