Introduction
Surgical care is essential for managing a wide spectrum of diseases, with over 234 million procedures performed annually worldwide. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), more than 60% of surgeries are emergencies, yet nearly two billion people lack access to essential and emergency surgical services. Surgeries are classified as elective, required, or emergency, with urgent procedures, such as appendectomy or trauma care, being life-saving [1]. Trauma, including road traffic accidents, burns, poisoning, and firearm-related injuries, accounts for 10% of global mortality, with 90% occurring in LMICs. Annually, more than five million people die from injuries, including one million from road traffic accidents, which are the leading cause of injury-related deaths [2]. In Iran, traffic accidents result in approximately 24 000 deaths each year [3]. 
General surgical emergencies include acute abdominal conditions, bowel obstruction, appendicitis, biliary disease, and infectious abscesses. Surgeries are further categorized as minor, such as biopsies or lesion removal, or major, involving entry into body cavities or amputations [3]. In recent decades, minimally invasive and laparoscopic techniques have expanded, offering significant benefits to patients [4]. However, complications remain a concern, ranging from minor risks (grade i) to death (grade v). 
Systematic data sources, such as hospital episode statistics, provide valuable insights into hospital performance, healthcare equity, and policy development [5]. Given the critical role of emergency surgery, continuous evaluation of trends and outcomes is essential. 

Methods
This study included patients admitted to the Emergency General Surgery Department of Pour-Sina Hospital, Rasht City, Iran, between 2020 and 2021. Patients were recruited using availability sampling from those undergoing emergency surgical procedures. To maintain consistency, individuals aged 18< years were excluded.
We collected a wide range of information, starting with demographic data, such as age and sex, and extending to details about the surgery itself, including the type of operation and its level of invasiveness. Postoperative outcomes were also carefully recorded, focusing on complications, length of hospital stay, and final surgical results. For clarity, complications were classified into five stages: Minor issues manageable with simple treatment (stage I), moderate complications requiring additional care, such as antibiotics or drainage (stage II), major problems requiring repeat surgery or ICU admission (stage III), life-threatening conditions requiring urgent intervention (stage IV), and catastrophic outcomes leading to disability or death (stage V).
The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A combination of averages, variability measures, tables, and charts was used to describe the findings, while chi-square tests explored relationships between surgical types and other factors. A significance level of 0.05 was applied, and all analyses were performed using IBM SPSS software, version 24 (USA). The sample size was estimated using Cochran’s formula, with a 71% prevalence of trauma-related emergencies reported by Ibrahim et al. [6].

Results
A total of 320 patients undergoing emergency surgery were evaluated. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 86 years, with a mean of 40.41±16.51 years. The average duration of hospitalization was 4.94±3.21 days. Of the participants, 207(64.7%) were male and 113(35.3%) female. More than half of the patients (53.1%) had no significant comorbidities, and the most frequent underlying disease was heart disease (13.1%).
The majority of emergency procedures were abdominal, particularly appendectomies, followed by trauma-related surgery. Most operations were classified as major and invasive. Postoperative complications were generally mild to moderate, with grade I and II complications being the most common. Despite this, eight deaths were recorded, while the remaining patients were discharged after recovery.
Statistical analysis indicated a significant relationship between the type of surgery and hospital stay (P=0.000). Furthermore, chi-square testing revealed a strong association between surgical complications and procedure type. Patients with trauma had the highest incidence of severe outcomes, including Grade V mortality, while appendectomy patients most often experienced minor complications (grade I) (Table 1).



Conclusion
Non-traumatic emergency surgeries remain common, with gastrointestinal operations, such as appendectomy, colectomy, and hernia repair at the forefront. Given their burden on healthcare systems, identifying risk factors for complications and prolonged hospitalization is critical. Our findings emphasize that the type of surgery strongly influences outcomes, underscoring the need for tailored perioperative strategies.

Ethical Considerations

Compliance with ethical guidelines
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran (Code: IR.GUMS.REC.1401.050).

Funding
This research did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors. 

Authors contributions
Data analysis, and interpretation of data: Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi and Ramin Ebrahimian-Jektaji; Drafting of the manuscript: Mehdi Musa Zade, Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi, Ramin Ebrahimian-Jektaji; Critical revision of the manuscript: Mehdi Musa Zade, Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi, Motahareh Bolouki; Satatical analysis: Mehdi Musa Zade, Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi, Ramin Ebrahimian-Jektaji; Obtained funding: Mehdi Musa Zade and Ramin Ebrahimian-Jektaji; Administrative, technical, or material support: Mehdi Musa Zade, Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi; Study supervision: Mehdo Musa Zade and Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi; Conceptualization, study design and final approval: All Authors.

Conflicts of interest
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments
The authors thank Guilan University of Medical Sciences for their assistance and guidance in this study.