Emergency Laparotomy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review of Indications and Outcomes
Topic overview
This systematic review examines emergency laparotomy performed at the bedside in neonatal intensive care units versus traditional operating theatre procedures. Despite treating higher-risk premature infants, cotside surgery shows comparable mortality and morbidity rates while avoiding transfer-related complications like tube dislodgement and hypothermia.
Key takeaways
- Cotside laparotomy in NICU is safe and feasible with comparable mortality (24%) and morbidity (8%) to theatre-based surgery.
- Neonates undergoing cotside surgery are higher-risk: lower birthweight (~1,305g vs 2,941g) and gestational age (~29.5 vs 34.3 weeks).
- Transfer to theatre poses significant risks including endotracheal tube dislodgement and hypothermia in critically ill neonates.
- Only 33% of institutions have formal guidelines for cotside surgery despite its widespread use across 20 surgical sites globally.
- Surgical location decisions should be multidisciplinary, considering cardiorespiratory status and institutional capabilities.
Keywords
Hashtags
Full article text
Full article text not available for this entry
How to cite: GlobalCastMD. Emergency Laparotomy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review of Indications and Outcomes. GlobalCastMD Medical Library. 2025-12-19. https://library.globalcastmd.com/article/11328
Comments