Vester-Andersen M, et al. - In this population-based cohort study, researchers analyzed prospectively gathered data to determine the link between epidural analgesia and mortality in emergency abdominal surgery. Excluding appendectomies, emergency abdominal laparotomy or laparoscopy cases from 1 January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010, were selected from 13 Danish hospitals. Ninety-day mortality was assessed as the primary outcome and 30-day mortality and serious adverse events were evaluated as secondary outcomes. In the adjusted analysis, a decreased risk of mortality was found in relation to the use of epidural analgesia perioperatively. Findings revealed no occurrence of serious adverse events.