Time to Death and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Emergency abdominal surgery is associated with significant mortality and morbidity rates as it is performed with little to no advance planning or preparation on patients who are in dire straits. This study aims to determine the time to death and predictors of in-hospital mortality among adult patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients who had undergone surgery for emergency abdominal conditions between January 2019 to December 30, 2023, at Jimma University Medical Center. Three hundred records were selected using a proportional sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured data extraction checklist using KoboToolbox and were analyzed by STATA Version 17. RESULTS: The median patient age was 35 years (IQR: 26–47). Out of the 300 patients, 37 died during hospitalization and the overall incidence rate of death was 1.35 per 100 person-days (95% CI: 0.98–1.86). Sixty percent of the patients suffered from at least one type of complication. Being male (AHR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.25–15.42), and octogenarians (AHR = 7.77, 95% CI: 2.57–33.5) had increased hazard of mortality. Patients’ ASA grade (AHR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.2–6.6), shock (AHR = 9.7, 95% CI: 1.8-39.9), and re-laparotomy (AHR = 2.18, 95% CI: 0.35–13.6) were significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: The mortality was high in this study. The condition of the patient during presentation and postoperative complications were significant predictors of mortality. Devising special integrated efforts and guidelines for the perioperative management of patients can improve survival outcomes and decrease postoperative complications.