CT-determined sarcopenia as a predictor of post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing an emergency laparotomy

•Sarcopenia predicts 90-day mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy.•Sarcopenia predicts ICU/HDU admission in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy.•Sarcopenia may identify patients for whom surgery may not confer survival benefit.•CT determined sarcopenia has been shown to be both rapid and cost-neutral.