Associations Between Care Bundles and Postoperative Outcomes After Major Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Care bundles were found to improve postoperative outcomes in elective surgery. However, in major emergency general surgery studies show a divergent impact on mortality and length of stay. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate associations between care bundles and mortality, complications, and length of stay when applied in major emergency general surgery. Methods: A systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase was performed on the May 1, 2021. Only comparative studies on care bundles in major emergency general surgery were included. Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis were performed on 30-d mortality. We undertook a narrative approach of long-term mortality, complications, and length of stay. Results: Meta-analysis of 13 studies with 35,771 patients demonstrated that care bundles in emergency surgery were not associated with a significant reduction in odds of 30-d mortality (odds ratio = 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.62-1.03). Trial sequential analysis confirmed that the meta-analysis was underpowered with a minimum of 78,901 patients required for firm conclusions. Seven studies reported complication rates whereof six reported lower complication rates using care bundles. Conclusions: Care bundles were reported to decrease postoperative complications in five out of seven studies and seven out of 11 studies reported a shortening in length of stay.