Combined APACHE II and lactate levels predict post-op mortality in high-risk patients

For patients facing emergency laparotomy due to gastrointestinal perforation peritonitis, integrating serial APACHE II scores and serum lactate levels significantly enhances mortality prediction. The combination shows an impressive 85% sensitivity and 82% specificity for 30-day postoperative death, outperforming individual markers. With a mortality rate of 35%, timely identification of high-risk patients can transform clinical management and improve outcomes in this critical setting.