Table 4.

Cause of death in adults undergoing decompressive laparotomy

Organ failure	41
▪ Multiple organ failure	30
▪ Intestinal ischemia and/or necrosis	7
▪ Respiratory failure	3
▪ Cardiac failure	1
Other causes	5
▪ Hemorrhagic shock	2
▪ Septic shock	2
▪ Severe head injury	1
Not reported	77

Bold data represents the overall number of deaths following DL. A subdivision is given to specify the cause