“EL is a procedure performed for a heterogenous group of patients for a diverse range of pathologies, such as intestinal obstruction, perforation and peritonitis. Patients are often
frail with limited physiological reserve. The in-hospital mortality rate is 9.3%, increasing to 15.3% in patients aged >65 years, compared with 1—2% for elective procedures. EL
carries a higher risk of postoperative complications, and SSI is more likely after dirty procedures where the surgical site is already contaminated.
Use of a care bundle has been shown to reduce the SSI rate by 40—50% in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery and 7.6% in patients undergoing EL. There is
no consensus on what constitutes a care bundle for SSI, except inclusion of three or more interventions.”