Surgical Apgar Score as a Predictor of 30-Day Postoperative Complications Following Emergency Laparotomy: A Prospective Observational Study

Background

Emergency laparotomy carries high morbidity and mortality, and simple tools for postoperative risk stratification are needed, particularly in resource-limited settings. The Surgical Apgar Score (SAS) is a 10-point score calculated from three routinely recorded intraoperative variables: estimated blood loss, lowest mean arterial pressure and lowest heart rate.