Novel Textbook Outcomes following emergency laparotomy: Delphi exercise
David N Naumann, Aneel Bhangu, Adam Brooks, Matthew J. Martin, Bryan A. Cotton, Mansoor Khan, Mark J. Midwinter, Lyndsay Pearce, Douglas M. Bowley, John B. Holcomb, Ewen A. Griffiths, BEACON Collaborative, Adam Abu-Abeid, Adam Brooks, Adam Peckham-Cooper, Adam R. Dyas, Ademola Adeyeye, Agron Dogjani, Alasdair C Y Ball, Albert Wolthuis, Alejandro Quiroga-Garza, Aleksandar Karamarković, Alessio Giordano, Alexander Fuchs, Alexander Julianov, Alexander W. Phillips, Alexander Zimmermann, Alexandros Charalabopoulos, Alexei Birkun, Alexis Rafael Narvaez‐Rojas, Ali Güner, Amelia Davis, András Vereczkei, Andrea Balla, Andrea Celotti, Andrea Romanzi, Andrea Trombetta, Andrew D. Beggs, Andrew Robertson, Andrew Petrosoniak, Andrew Davies, Ángel Ignacio Lledó Becerra, Anthony Loria, Antonio Brillantino, Antonios Athanasiou, Arda Işık, Argyrios Ioannidis, Ariel Santos, Arin Saha, Arturo Vilches‐Moraga, Asad Choudhry, Asuka Tsuchiya, B. Mark Smithers, Bas P. L. Wijnhoven, Barrie Keeler, Belinda De Simone, Rodica Bîrlă, Biswadev Mitra, Boyko Atanasov, Brian D. Badgwell, Brodie Nolan, Bryan A. Cotton, Byung Hee Kang, Caoimhe C Duffy, Carlos A. Ordóñez, Carlos Augusto Gomes, Carmen Mueller, Caroline E. Reinke, Carter C. Lebares, Catherine J. Hunter, C. Villodre, Cem Emir Güldoğan, Charalampos Seretis, Charles A. Adams, Charles Pilgrim, Chris Varghese, Christian Owoo, Christian S. Meyhoff, Christina Fleming, Christina M. Stuart, C Lewis-Lloyd, Christopher J. McLaughlin, Claire Stevens, Colin A. Graham, Conor Magee, David Saunders, D. Dante Yeh, Daniel L. Chan, Daniel Moritz Felsenreich, Daniel N. Holena, Dauda Bawa, David J. Bowrey, David N Naumann, David S. Liu, David S. Chan, Deb Sanjay Nag, Diane N. Haddad, Diletta Corallino, Dimitrios Damaskos, Dimitrios Moris
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Textbook outcomes are composite outcome measures that reflect the ideal overall experience for patients. There are many of these in the elective surgery literature but no textbook outcomes have been proposed for patients following emergency laparotomy. The aim was to achieve international consensus amongst experts and patients for the best Textbook Outcomes for non-trauma and trauma emergency laparotomy. METHODS: A modified Delphi exercise was undertaken with three planned rounds to achieve consensus regarding the best Textbook Outcomes based on the category, number and importance (Likert scale of 1-5) of individual outcome measures. There were separate questions for non-trauma and trauma. A patient engagement exercise was undertaken after round 2 to inform the final round. RESULTS: A total of 337 participants from 53 countries participated in all three rounds of the exercise. The final Textbook Outcomes were divided into 'early' and 'longer-term'. For non-trauma patients the proposed early Textbook Outcome was 'Discharged from hospital without serious postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade III; including intra-abdominal sepsis, organ failure, unplanned re-operation or death). For trauma patients it was 'Discharged from hospital without unexpected transfusion after haemostasis, and no serious postoperative complications (adapted Clavien-Dindo for trauma ≥ grade III; including intra-abdominal sepsis, organ failure, unplanned re-operation on or death)'. The longer-term Textbook Outcome for both non-trauma and trauma was 'Achieved the early Textbook Outcome, and restoration of baseline quality of life at 1 year'. CONCLUSION: Early and longer-term Textbook Outcomes have been agreed by an international consensus of experts for non-trauma and trauma emergency laparotomy. These now require clinical validation with patient data.