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. 2022 Jun 16;17:33. doi: 10.1186/s13017-022-00432-0

Table 2.

Final list of questions following prioritisation in Phase 2

General EGS
Which pre- or post-operative interventions improve clinical outcomes in patients with frailty after emergency surgery?
How can training be improved to meet emergency general surgery demand, including open surgery?
What is the impact of emergency laparotomy on quality of life in frail patients?
What are the best predictors of adverse outcomes and mortality in older adults presenting with emergency general surgery pathology?
How does small bites closure compare to traditional mass closure in the emergency setting (wound infection, fascial dehiscence and incisional hernia rates)?
Emergency colorectal surgery
Does a formal cancer resection improve disease-free and overall survival in perforated or obstructing emergency colorectal cancer resections?
How do stent, stoma or immediate resection for obstructing colorectal cancers compare?
What are the absolute risks of anastomotic leak following emergency small bowel/large bowel anastomosis, and the relative importance of risk factors?
How can we optimise the rate of reversal of Hartmann’s when performed as an emergency and what are the predictive factors in those who are subsequently reversed?
Does a laparoscopic approach for adhesional small bowel obstruction reduce the risk of recurrence, and how do we identify those who would benefit most from laparoscopic approach?
Non-technical
Which human/organisational factors cause inefficiency in a dedicated emergency theatre?
Health service related
Are emergency surgical outcomes improved with perioperative physician or geriatrician input?
Is there a need for an ‘Emergency Surgery’ sub-specialisation?
Is there a volume–outcome relationship for emergency surgery?
What is the value of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes for EGS patients, compared to standard management?
Which patients derive the greatest benefit from routine high-dependency unit (HDU)/intensive treatment unit (ITU) care after emergency surgery?
Should patients have extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis after an emergency laparotomy with or without resection?