Lost in transition: Impact of interhospital transfer on outcomes after emergency general surgery in the older adult population (13 June 2024)

Summary

Emergency general surgery performed among patients aged over 65 years represents a particularly high-risk population. Transferring emergency surgery patients between hospitals has been linked to higher mortality, but its impact on outcomes in the geriatric population is uncertain. This study in Surgery aimed to explore the effect of transfer between hospitals on postoperative outcomes in older people who have emergency general surgery.

The authors concluded that transferring patients between hospitals contributed to overall mortality and morbidity amongst geriatric emergency general surgery patients. They call for further investigation into improved coordination between hospitals, tailored care plans and comprehensive risk assessments, to help improve outcomes for older emergency surgery patients.