Background Inadequate emergence is a common postoperative complication in elderly patients following major abdominal surgery. This study was designed to determine its incidence, identify associated risk factors and characterise its clinical subtypes within this high-risk cohort.
Design and setting This prospective single-centre cohort study was conducted at a comprehensive specialised tertiary care hospital in Northwest Ethiopia. Consecutive patients aged 65 years and older scheduled for elective major abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia were enrolled.
Primary outcome measure The primary outcome was the proportion of patients experiencing inadequate emergence. Results A total of 388 patients were analysed.
Inadequate emergence occurred in 21.9% of participants (95% CI 14.3% to 31.6%), with hypoactive emergence observed in 10.7% and emergence delirium in 11.2%.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 24 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on Incidence and associated factors of inadequate emergence in elderly patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery: a prospective cohort study in Northwest Ethiopia.
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