Meta-Analysis of Interhospital Transfer and Mortality After Emergency General Surgery Operations.

Transferred patients were older (mean difference: 5.91 y, P = 0.010) and more patients in the transferred group were classed as American Society of Anesthesiologists ≥3 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.45, P < 0.001).

Although transferred patients underwent more complex procedures such as small bowel resection (OR: 1.49, P = 0.002), colectomy (OR: 1.72, P = 0.002), and perforated peptic ulcer repair (OR: 1.69, P < 0.001), less complex operations such as appendicectomies (OR: 0.60, P = 0.003) were more common in the direct admission group.