This piece is a chance to hear how and why an emergency laparotomy can work as part of the perioperative process. Ideally perioperative medicine involves preparation, consideration, shared decision making and 'enhanced recovery'; which of these elements can be incorporated into a procedure which is unplanned? Can your practice be adjusted to improve outcomes for patients who might have as little as a few hours before big decisions about their treatment and future are made?

Presented by Michael Cox, Professor of Surgery, Nepean Hospital.