International journal of surgery
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Surgically correctable pathology accounts for a sizeable proportion of the overall global burden of disease. Over the last decade the role of surgery in the public health agenda has increased in prominence and attempts to quantify surgical capacity suggest that it is a significant public health issue, with a great disparity between high-income, and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although barriers such as accessibility, availability, affordability and acceptability of surgical care hinder improvements in LMICs, evidence suggests that interventions to improve surgical care in these settings can be cost-effective. ⋯ In this article, we discuss the current burden of global surgical disease and explore some of the barriers that may be encountered in improving surgical capacity in LMICs. We go on to consider the role that international organisations can have in improving surgical care globally. We conclude by discussing surgery as a global health priority and possible solutions to improving surgical care globally.
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The World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSC) has demonstrated efficacy in developed and developing countries alike. Recent increases in awareness of surgical morbidity in developing countries has placed greater emphasis on strategies to improve surgical safety in resource-limited settings. The implementation of surgical safety checklists in low-income countries has specific barriers related to resources and culture. ⋯ This review will address the benefits and challenges of implementation of surgical safety checklists in developing countries. Moreover, inspiration for the original checklist is revisited to identify areas that will be of particular benefit in a resource-poor setting. Potential future strategies to encourage the implementation of checklists in these countries are also discussed.
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A best evidence topic in surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed whether there is any benefit in treating infected laparotomy wounds with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). ⋯ The evidence on this subject is limited; there is a single non-randomised controlled trial, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 1 retrospective cohort study discussed in this paper. From the available literature, the use of NPWT in infected laparotomy wounds does reduce the length of hospital stay, the number of dressing changes required and promote faster wound healing.
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Review Meta Analysis
Preoperative infliximab use and postoperative complications in Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Infliximab revolutionized the treatment paradigm of Crohn's disease (CD), but did not reduce the need for surgery. The impact of biologic agents on surgical complication rates remains debated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative infliximab use on early postoperative complications in patients with CD undergoing abdominal surgery. ⋯ Preoperative infliximab use modestly increases the risk of total early postoperative complications, and particularly infectious complications in CD patients.
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The impact of postoperative complications after Major Abdominal Surgery (MAS) is substantial, especially when socio-economical aspects are taken into account. This systematic review focuses on the effects of preoperative exercise therapy (PEXT) on physical fitness prior to MAS, length of hospital admission and postoperative complications in patients eligible for MAS, and on what is known about the most effective kind of exercise regime. ⋯ Preoperative exercise therapy might be effective in improving the physical fitness of patients prior to major abdominal surgery, and preoperative chest physiotherapy seems effective in reducing pulmonary complications. However consensus on training method is lacking. Future research should focus on the method and effect of PEXT before high-risk surgical procedures.