Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
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In-hospital mortality was 9.6% in 3000 abdominal and abdominothoracic operations carried out by me or under my care. Intra-abdominal complications developing during the recovery period required reoperation in 141 patients. ⋯ Leaks and bleeding were most frequent and carried a high mortality. Patient selection and preparation, and selection of the simplest effective procedure, are not yet capable of being fully assessed in an individual patient.