biostudies-literatureSilva LBARDRoyal College of Surgeons of Englande081821https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11268063biostudies-literatureUnknown14(7)<h4>Introduction</h4>Morbidity from an emergency laparotomy (EmLap) is difficult to define and poorly understood. Morbidity is a holistic concept, reliant upon an interplay of bio-psychosocial outcomes that evolve long after discharge. To date, no previous study has explored the psychosocial outcomes following EmLap as a collective, nor their change over time. This study aims to describe the holistic morbidity following EmLap within the first year following surgery.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>This is a multicentre, mixed-methods prospective 12-month cohort study with two participant populations: patient participants and family caregivers (FCGs). A target of 160 adult patients who undergo EmLap and can give informed consent will be included in the patient participant group. Patient particiBMJ openPsychosocial outcomes following emergency laparotomy (POLO) study: a study protocol for a multicentre mixed-methods prospective cohort study assessing the psycho-social outcomes following emergency laparotomy in adults.PMC1126806369059675Winter Appeal Fund 2020Watts TBisson JAbbas Mohamed SSilva LMeggy ACornish JATorkington JNg JHMoug SfalsePsychosocial outcomes following emergency laparotomy (POLO) study: a study protocol for a multicentre mixed-methods prospective cohort study assessing the psycho-social outcomes following emergency laparotomy in adults.<h4>Introduction</h4>Morbidity from an emergency laparotomy (EmLap) is difficult to define and poorly understood. Morbidity is a holistic concept, reliant upon an interplay of bio-psychosocial outcomes that evolve long after discharge. To date, no previous study has explored the psychosocial outcomes following EmLap as a collective, nor their change over time. This study aims to describe the holistic morbidity following EmLap within the first year following surgery.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>This is a multicentre, mixed-methods prospective 12-month cohort study with two participant populations: patient participants and family caregivers (FCGs). A target of 160 adult patients who undergo EmLap and can give informed consent will be included in the patient participant group. Patient partici2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-06-02T23:12:38.879Z2025-04-19T13:13:49.684ZS-EPMC112680633898655310.1136/bmjopen-2023-081821