Australia urgently needs a quality improvement approach to emergency laparotomy

A prospective quality improvement register will reduce variations in outcomes and care following emergency laparotomy

A patient presenting to an Australian emergency department with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome will have their presumptive diagnosis, immediate medical treatment and definitive interventional treatment (eg, angioplasty within 90 minutes of arrival) fast tracked by following an agreed, evidence-based pathway that can be monitored for compliance. The 30-day mortality following angioplasty is 2%, but all patients will be admitted to a coronary care unit.1 There are equivalent pathways for patients presenting with stroke.2