Operative Findings and Outcomes of Emergency Laparotomy at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt

Emergency laparotomy is a high-risk operative intervention associated with significant morbidity and mortality in Nigerian tertiary hospitals, and the quality of outcomes in such settings reflects pre-operative resuscitation practice, surgical skill, and post-operative critical care capacity. This study examines the operative indications, intraoperative findings, and outcomes of emergency laparotomy at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, South South Nigeria. A retrospective cross-sectional design is applied to theatre and surgical ward records from 2019 to 2023. Data include operative indication, pre-operative ASA classification, operative findings, procedure performed, intraoperative complications, blood transfusion, ICU admission, wound dehiscence, anastomotic leak, length of stay, and 30-day mortality. SPSS is used for analysis. Available surgical audit literature from South South Nigeria identifies intestinal obstruction, perforated viscus, and trauma-related haemoperitoneum as the most frequent emergency laparotomy indications, with 30-day mortality rates ranging from 10 to 25 percent. The POSSUM scoring system provides the risk-adjusted mortality prediction framework applied in the analysis. Findings will inform the surgical unit's morbidity and mortality review committee and support arguments for strengthening pre-operative critical care and emergency blood availability. Keywords: emergency laparotomy, surgical outcomes, mortality, Port Harcourt, South South Nigeria.