World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2015
Multicenter StudyStrategic Assessment of Trauma Care Capacity in Ghana.
This study aimed to assess availability of trauma care technology in Ghana. In addition, factors contributing to deficiencies were evaluated. By doing so, potential solutions to inefficient aspects of health systems management and maladapted technology for trauma care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) could be identified. ⋯ While availability of several low-cost items could be better supplied by improvements in stock-management and procurement policies, there is a critical need for redress of the national insurance reimbursement system and trauma care training of district hospital staff. Further, developing local service and technical support capabilities is more and more pressing as technology plays an increasingly important role in LMIC healthcare systems.
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2015
Multicenter StudyThe Effect of Body Mass Index on Perioperative Outcomes After Major Surgery: Results from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) 2005-2011.
Obesity is associated with poor surgical outcomes and disparity in access-to-care. There is a lack of quality data on the effect of body mass index (BMI) on perioperative outcomes. Accordingly, we sought to determine the procedure specific, independent-effect of BMI on 30-day perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing major surgery. ⋯ The prevalence of BMI derangements in surgical patients is high. The effect of BMI on outcomes is procedure specific. Patients with BMI between 18.5 and 40-kg/m(2) at time of surgery fare equally well with regard to complications and mortality. However, morbidly obese patients are at-risk for postsurgical complications and targeted preoperative-optimization may improve outcomes and attenuate disparity in access-to-care.
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2015
Multicenter StudyAssessing Trauma Care Capabilities of the Health Centers in Northern Ghana.
Traffic-related injury is a major and increasing cause of global mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, trauma systems, personnel, resources, and infrastructure are frequently insufficient to meet the needs of the population in this at-risk population in LMICs. In addition, these resources are not uniformly distributed, coordinated, nor well described within most countries. Trauma care resources have not previously been characterized in the Northern Region of Ghana. ⋯ Although resources may be unavoidably constrained, there are substantial opportunities to improve the systematic management of trauma care and improve the education of the medical providers regarding care of injured patients in the region studied.
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2015
Pediatric Surgical Care in a Dutch Military Hospital in Afghanistan.
From August 2006-August 2010, as part of the ISAF mission, the Armed Forces of the Netherlands deployed a role 2 enhanced Medical Treatment Facility (R2E-MTF) to Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Although from the principle doctrine not considered a primary task, care was delivered to civilians, including many children. Humanitarian aid accounted for a substantial part of the workload, necessitating medical, infrastructural, and logistical adaptations. Particularly pediatric care demanded specific expertise and equipment. In our pre-deployment preparations this aspect had been undervalued. Because these experiences could be influential in future mission planning, we analyzed our data and compared them with international reports. ⋯ Pediatric patients made up a considerable part of the workload at the Dutch R2E-MTF in Uruzgan, Afghanistan. This is in line with other reports from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but used definitions in reported series are inconsistent, making comparisons difficult. Our findings stress the need for a comprehensive, prospective, and coalition-wide patient registry with uniformly applied criteria. Civilian disaster and military operational planners should incorporate reported patient statistics in manning documents, future courses, training manuals, logistic planning, and doctrines, because pediatric care is a reality that cannot be ignored.
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2015
Predictors of the Effectiveness of Prophylactic Drains After Hepatic Resection.
Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the limited efficacy of prophylactic drains following hepatic resection. However, many surgeons still insist on using prophylactic drains. This study was designed to identify patients who require prophylactic drains to manage or monitor postoperative complications after hepatic resection. ⋯ A prophylactic drain should be considered following hepatic resection for patients with intraoperative bile leakage, operation time of ≥ 360 min, or blood loss of ≥ 650 ml.