Outcomes of traumatic brain injury patients with acute epidural and subdural hematoma who underwent burr hole surgery: A two-year study at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania.

Background: Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Africa. Craniotomy is the surgical standard for acute extra-axial hematomas that is not realistic in LMIC due to deficient human and operative resources. Burr hole surgery may be an alternative in resource-limited settings. This study aimed at determining outcomes and factors associated with burr hole surgery as definitive management of traumatic extra-axial hematomas. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study of patients with acute traumatic extra-axial hematomas who underwent burr hole surgery. Data were extracted from the patient's medical records after confirmation of the surgery and CT scan findings. The data were entered to SPSS 25 for analysis where a bivariate analysis was done. Results: 156 participants were enrolled; 149 (95.5 %) were males. The mean age of the participants was 35.33 (SD 15.37) years. The mean arrival GCS was 11.76 ± 3.59. Most participants had mild, followed by severe then moderate (55.8 %, 24.4 %, and 19.9 % respectively) TBI. 118 (75.6 %) participants had good outcomes and the overall in-hospital mortality was 18.6 %. 109 (69.9 %) had epidural hematomas mostly (21 %) in the parietal lobe. 30 (19.2 %) had brain herniation syndromes. Poor outcomes were associated with age above 50 years, severe TBI, motor response <4, abnormal pupil size, other injuries, ICU admission, SDH, midline shift >10 mm, cerebral edema, and brain herniation syndromes. Surgical site infection and hemostasis by packing were associated with a long length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Burr hole surgery is still a safe, effective, and simple life-saving procedure in patients with acute hematomas in resource-constrained areas.

Using participatory action research to empower district hospital staff to deliver quality-assured essential surgery to rural populations in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania.

Background: In 2017 the SURG-Africa project set out to institute a surgical, obstetric, trauma and anesthesia (SOTA) care capacity-building intervention focused on non-specialist providers at district hospitals in Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania. The aim was to scale up quality-assured SOTA care for rural populations. This paper reports the process of developing the intervention and our experience of initial implementation, using a participatory approach. Methods: Participatory Action Research workshops were held in the 3 countries in July-October 2017 and in October 2018-July 2019, involving representatives of key local stakeholder groups: district hospital (DH) surgical teams and administrators, referral hospital SOTA specialists, professional associations and local authorities. Through semi-structured discussions, qualitative data were collected on participants' perceptions and experiences of barriers to the provision of SOTA care at district level, and on the training and supervision needs of district surgical teams. Data were compared for themes across countries and across surgical team cadres. Results: All groups reported a lack of in-service training to develop essential skills to manage common SOTA cases; use and care of equipment; essential anesthesia care including resuscitation skills; and infection prevention and control. Very few district surgical teams had access to supervision. SOTA providers at DHs reported a demand for more feedback on referrals. Participants prioritized training needs that could be addressed through regular in-service training and supervision visits from referral hospital specialists to DHs. These data were used by participants in an action-planning cycle to develop site-specific training plans for each research site. Conclusion: The inclusive, participatory approach to stakeholder involvement in SOTA system strengthening employed by this study supported the design of a locally relevant and contextualized intervention. This study provides lessons on how to rebalance power dynamics in Global Surgery, through giving a voice to district surgical teams.

Traumatic left common carotid artery thrombosis with ischemic brain injury: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) are common and are associated with arterial injuries in 10-25 % of the cases, with carotid artery twice as frequent as to vertebral arteries. Carotid artery injury constitutes about 22 % of all cervical vascular injuries. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 44-year-old male who sustained penetrating neck injury in a motor traffic crash. He presented with monoplegia of his right upper limb and an open wound on the left side of his neck which was not actively bleeding hence surgical debridement was done and sutured. CT angiography and CT-scan brain concluded of left common carotid thrombosis secondary to penetrating neck trauma with ischemic brain injury. Patient was successfully managed conservatively. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The general mortality rate in PNI with associated cervical vascular injury is approximately 66 %. Artery dissection occurs when the intima tears causing intramural hematoma leading to narrowing or occlusion. CT angiography is the best and fastest modality to assess these injuries and management depends on the clinical bases of the patient. CONCLUSION: Neck is vulnerable to external trauma because it is not protected by the skeleton. The neck contains vital structures such as the trachea, esophagus, blood vessels and nervous system organs. Vascular injuries can be life-threatening owing to its prompt clinical assessment and investigation.

Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type with medullary pattern: A case report at a tertiary facility in Tanzania.

Key Clinical Message: Describes a rare form of invasive breast cancer of no special type.Not a distinct morphological subtype.Characterized by dense lymphoid infiltrate, syncytial growth, pushing borders, and cells with high-grade nuclei.Clinically aggressive but carries a better prognosis than other more frequent invasive breast carcinomas. Abstract: Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type with medullary pattern (BCNST-MP) is a rare form of breast tumor, accounting for less than 5% of all invasive breast carcinomas. Its diagnosis is based on histologic criteria. Historically, this tumor was known as medullary carcinoma. Poor morphological reproducibility led to re-classification. Despite having an aggressive biological behavior, these tumors usually carry a better prognosis compared with other more frequent forms of invasive breast carcinomas. Herein, we present a case of BCNST-MP in a 58-year-old African female, successfully treated in our institution through chemo-radiation, hormonal therapy and surgery.

Pediatric esophageal diverticulum following button batter ingestion. A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Foreign body ingestion is a frequent and potentially life-threatening concern in children, with button batteries being the second most frequently ingested object trailing coins. The mechanical and chemical impact of foreign objects on delicate esophageal lumen poses a grave concern. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we unveil a compelling case of a two-year-old girl who suffered from difficulty in swallowing, weight loss, and frequent chest infections. A chest X-ray revealed a halo sign within the confines of her thoracic esophagus. However, the formidable challenge of extensive inflammation greatly hindered visibility during esophagoscopy, leading to an imperative decision of thoracotomy. The surgical exploration uncovered an esophageal diverticulum, skillfully managed with a conservative approach. Three months postoperatively, she resumed regular feeds without chest symptoms. DISCUSSION: Foreign body ingestion is predominantly among children below four years, with button batteries being among the frequent objects involved. Endoscopic retrieval is an effective and less morbid procedure for foreign body retrieval. Esophageal diverticula following button battery ingestion have rarely been reported. CONCLUSION: Timely diagnosis and effective management of esophageal foreign bodies are crucial, as chemical reactions from button batteries can commence within two hours of ingestion. Swift and decisive actions, coupled with less morbid procedures such as endoscopic retrieval should be prioritized in the management.

Chest tube thoracostomy: A simple life-saving procedure with potential hazardous risks.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Chest tube thoracostomy is a simple life-saving procedure with many benefits but comes with significant potential morbidity. Potentially all intra-thoracic organs are at risk of possible injury as well as peritoneal. CASE PRESENTATION: We present four patients who had chest tube thoracostomy with potential complications fortunately were managed promptly and recovered fully. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Complications related to tube thoracostomy is reported up to 25 % especially when done under emergency conditions. While the procedure is reported safe, it's associated morbidity is not well described. Additionally, clinicians are urged to follow standard operating procedures and address the potential complications with consent to their patients. CONCLUSION: Chest tube thoracostomy is an invasive life-saving procedure performed across various clinical ranks and sub-specialties. It has potential life-threatening risks and complications therefore clinicians should be well trained to identify such complications and address accordingly.

Potential Spectrum of Accompanied Penetrating Abdominal Intraperitoneal Injuries with Bowel Evisceration: Surprises Awaiting the Trauma Surgeon in Resource Limited Settings.

Penetrating abdominal injuries involves violation of the peritoneal cavity and injuries to solid organs and other intraperitoneal viscera such as major blood vessels and hollow organs. Typically such injuries arise from gunshot wounds or stab wounds. With increase in crime rates and motor traffic accidents in urban areas, the trauma surgeon in civilian urban centers faces spectrum of injuries similar to his colleague in war torn areas. Potential spectrum of penetrating abdominal injuries is wide and accurate diagnosis in resource limited centers is challenging. Majority of injuries are concealed and diagnosed intraoperatively and dealt with relatively junior trauma surgeons in emergency settings in remote limited settings. Computed tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facilities are scarce in resource limited settings. Haemodynamic states of penetrating abdominal injuries patients presenting in emergency departments necessitate urgent surgical exploration and management with minimal room for full radiological work-up. Evisceration of bowels with unstable haemodynamic states mandate laparotomy due to wide spectrum of accompanied intraperitoneal injuries. Four cases of penetrating abdominal injuries are presented with modes of assault ranging from gunshot injuries to stab wounds with broken bottles to highlight the intra-abdominal spectrum of injuries, challenges in diagnosis and emergency managements done in a resource limited setting.

Surgical capacity, productivity and efficiency at the district level in Sub-Saharan Africa: A three-country study.

INTRODUCTION: Efficient utilisation of surgical resources is essential when providing surgical care in low-resources settings. Countries are developing plans to scale up surgery, though insufficiently based on empirical evidence. This paper investigates the determinants of hospital efficiency in district hospitals in three African countries. METHODS: Three-month data, comprising surgical capacity indicators and volumes of major surgical procedures collected from 61 district-level hospitals in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, were analysed. Data envelopment analysis was used to calculate average hospital efficiency scores (max. = 1) for each country. Quantile regression analysis was selected to estimate the relationship between surgical volume and production factors. Two-stage bootstrap regression analysis was used to estimate the determinants of hospital efficiency. RESULTS: Average hospital efficiency scores were 0.77 in Tanzania, 0.70 in Malawi and 0.41 in Zambia. Hospitals with high efficiency scores had significantly more surgical staff compared with low efficiency hospitals (DEA score<1). Hospitals that scored high on the most commonly utilised surgical capacity index were not the ones with high surgical volumes or high efficiency. The number of surgical team members, which was lowest in Zambia, was strongly, positively correlated with surgical productivity and efficiency. CONCLUSION: Hospital efficiency, combining capacity measures and surgical outputs, is a better indicator of surgical performance than capacity measures, which could be misleading if used alone for surgical planning. Investment in the surgical workforce, in particular, is critical to improving district hospital surgical productivity and efficiency.

A rare case report of perforated viscerothorax in a traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

INTRODUCTION: Diaphragmatic injuries are a consequence of penetrating or blunt thoracoabdominal trauma. Minor injuries are often masked. However, they are easily picked in the presence of diaphragmatic herniations. Delayed presentation is associated with the influx of visceral contents into the thoracic cavity, which may cause strangulation and obstruction. Viscerothorax is a rare complication of diaphragmatic injuries. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A case report of a 25-year-old male patient with a history of penetrating chest injury. He presented to our setting with a sharp abdominal pain and episodes of vomiting that were later accompanied by chest pains and difficulty breathing. A CT scan revealed the presence of a left hemidiaphragmatic injury with a viscerothorax and mediastinal shift to the right side. Surgery was immediately done and with a good postoperative outcome. DISCUSSION: Diaphragmatic injuries are still uncommon and are often overlooked in initial presentations. The presence of herniation through the defect prompts early diagnosis. Delayed presentations of these injuries are often affiliated with herniations that may be strangulating or obstructing with more severe complications such as viscerothorax causing tension into the thoracic cavity. CONCLUSION: The approach to diaphragmatic injuries at their initial presentation must be handled with an excellent index of suspicion in the evaluation of trauma victims to reduce management delay and avoid detrimental complications in contrast to the involvement of other associated injuries such as haemothorax, rib fractures, and visceral injuries. Early defect diagnosis followed by definitive surgical repair is the most favoured approach.

Intraabdominal dissemination of porocarcinoma; A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Porocarcinoma is a rare malignancy of dermal sweat glands commonly diagnosed in the seventh decade of life. It frequently evolves from a de novo benign poroma. These tumors present as a mass/nodule, ulcer, papule, or wart. Difficult to differentiate from other cutaneous lesions. Intraperitoneal invasion is scantly reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors present a case of a fifty-year-old female patient with a rare cancer of the dermal sweat glands in an unusual location and infiltration into the abdominal cavity, leading to intraperitoneal seedlings. DISCUSSION: Tumors of the sweat gland are rare and difficult to diagnose, often misdiagnosed as granuloma, squamous cell tumors, or warts. Surgical excision and Mohs micrographic surgery are mainstay treatment modalities in the early stages. Our patient was managed elsewhere with a diagnosis of granuloma. She was referred with a recurrence of the abdominal lesion. An appropriate diagnosis of porocarcinoma was made while she had an extensive intraperitoneal invasion and seedlings. We postulate that the previous abdominal incision had disseminated porocarcinoma cells into the abdominal cavity, causing extensive intraperitoneal dissemination. CONCLUSION: Because it is rare and difficult to diagnose, there is a considerable knowledge gap in the early accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of porocarcinoma. This causes a delay in establishing a diagnosis and profoundly impacts treatment outcomes.

Penetrating esophageal injury: A diagnostic challenge in resource-limited settings; a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Penetrating injuries to the upper aerodigestive tract are potentially life-threatening, with significant morbidity and mortality. Although rare, the cervical esophagus is the most vulnerable part of the esophagus to penetrating injuries. Given the unique and condensed anatomy of the neck, penetrating injuries to the second zone of the neck pose a demanding challenge. Contention exists in diagnosing and managing penetrating esophageal injuries. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein is a case of a young male with a penetrating neck injury from the left lateral aspect with subsequent esophageal injury. An early primary repair with muscle buttress resulted in admirable results. DISCUSSION: Accurate diagnosis and timely management are critical in deflating morbidity and mortality. Flexible esophagoscopy and Computed tomography with water-soluble contrast are the ideal modalities for diagnosing penetrating neck injuries, as clinical evaluation alone can readily overlook cervical esophagus injury. The esophageal repair depends on the patient's clinical condition, the extent of damage, anatomical location, and duration of the injury. Management varies from a conservative approach to radical esophagectomies. Surgery remains a cornerstone in managing penetrating esophageal injuries. Primary repair with an external drain is advocated within 24 h of injury. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion and timely diagnosis are critical in successfully managing penetrating esophageal injuries. Neck injuries demand a comprehensive evaluation for any aerodigestive or vascular leaks. Early primary repair with a muscle buttress improves the chance of an effective repair.

Infant gastroduodenal necrosis: a case report.

We report a case of a two month old baby who had presented with an acute abdomen. Intra operative necrosis of the abdominal esophagus to distal of ligamentum treitz was noted. He was subjected to palliative care and passed away on Day 8 post-surgery.

Using Group Model Building to Capture the Complex Dynamics of Scaling Up District-Level Surgery in Arusha Region, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Scaling up surgery at district hospitals (DHs) is the critical challenge if the Tanzanian national Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plan (NSOAP) objectives are to be achieved. Our study aims to address this challenge by taking a dynamic view of surgical scale-up at the district level using a participatory research approach. METHODS: A group model building (GMB) workshop was held with 18 professionals from three hospitals in the Arusha region. They built a graphical representation of the local system of surgical services delivery through a facilitated discussion that employed the nominal group technique. This resulted in a causal loop diagram (CLD) from which the participants identified the requirements for scaling-up surgery and the stakeholders who could satisfy these. After the GMB sessions, we identified clusters of related variables using inductive thematic analysis and the main feedback loops driving the model. RESULTS: The CLD consists of 57 variables. These include the 48 variables that were obtained through the nominal group technique and those that participants added later. We identified 6 themes: patient benefits, financing of surgery, cost sharing, staff motivation, communication, and effects on referral hospital. There are 5 self-reinforcing feedback loops: training, learning, meeting demand, revenues, and willingness to work in a good hospital. There are four self-correcting feedback loops or 'resistors to change:' recurrent costs, income lost, staff stress, and brain drain. CONCLUSION: This study provides a systems view on the scaling up of surgery from a district level perspective. Its results enable a critical appraisal of the feasibility of implementing the NSOAP. Our results suggest that policy-makers should be wary of 'quick fixes' that have short term gains only. Long term policy that considers the complex dynamics of surgical systems and that allows for periodic evaluation and adaption is needed to scale up surgery in a sustainable manner.

Economic Costs of Providing District- and Regional-Level Surgeries in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Access to surgical care is poor in Tanzania. The country is at the implementation stage of its first National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plan (NSOAP; 2018-2025) aiming to scale up surgery. This study aimed to calculate the costs of providing surgical care at the district and regional hospitals. METHODS: Two district hospitals (DHs) and the regional referral hospital (RH) in Arusha region were selected. All the staff, buildings, equipment, and medical and non-medical supplies deployed in running the hospitals over a 12 month period were identified and quantified from interviews and hospital records. Using a combination of step-down costing (SDC) and activity-based costing (ABC), all costs attributed to surgeries were established and then distributed over the individual types of surgeries. These costs were delineated into pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative components. RESULTS: The total annual costs of running the clinical cost centres ranged from $567k at Oltrumet DH to $3453k at Mt Meru RH. The total costs of surgeries ranged from $79k to $813k; amounting to 12%-22% of the total costs of running the hospitals. At least 70% of the costs were salaries. Unit costs and relative shares of capital costs were generally higher at the DHs. Two-thirds of all the procedures incurred at least 60% of their costs in the theatre. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) performed at the regional hospital was cheaper ($618) than surgical debridement (plus conservative treatment) due to prolonged post-operative inpatient care associated with the latter ($1177), but was performed infrequently due mostly to unavailability of implants. CONCLUSION: Lower unit costs and shares of capital costs at the RH reflect an advantage of economies of scale and scope at the RH, and a possible underutilization of capacity at the DHs. Greater efficiencies make a case for concentration and scale-up of surgical services at the RHs, but there is a stronger case for scaling up district-level surgeries, not only for equitable access to services, but also to drive down unit costs there, and free up RH resources for more complex cases such as ORIF.

Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and managed early. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old female (Chagga by tribe) presented with clinical features of intestinal obstruction 24 weeks into her second pregnancy. She had symptoms for one week. An emergency laparotomy was performed whereby gangrenous sigmoid volvulus was found; thus, it was resected and Hartmann's colostomy was raised. Unfortunately, she experienced intrauterine fetal death post-operatively. She was discharged clinically stable. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and management can prevent adverse effects such as bowel ischemia and preterm labor. Because classic clinical and radiological features may not be evident, high degree of suspicion is warranted.

Clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer patients from Northern Tanzania: common aspects of late stage presentation and triple negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer among Tanzanian women. Oestrogen (ER), progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 play major roles in prognosis and treatment but data for Tanzania are sparse. This study aimed to determine these patterns and histological types, tumour grading and staging of BC patients in northern Tanzania for a better understanding of BC in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) setting. METHODS: A cross-sectional study recorded newly diagnosed BC cases at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre between October 2018 and March 2019. Receptor status, histological types and grade, clinical stage and socio-demographic were recorded and descriptive and bivariate analyses performed. RESULTS: 116 patients were enrolled. Median age was 53 years, 71.6% were ≥45 years. The commonest molecular subtype was triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (n = 33; 28.4%). One hundred and two (87.9%) patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), poorly differentiated tumours (60; 51.7%) and clinical stage III disease (62; 53.0%). ER negative tumours were associated with poorly differentiated histological grade (relative risk (RR): 1.34 (0.87-2.07)), tumour size > 5 cm (RR: 1.67 (0.33-8.35)) and IDC (RR: 3.35 (0.56-20.23)). Clinical stages III & IV (odds ratio (OR): 1.64 (0.63-4.24)) were associated with hormone receptor (HR) negative tumours and metastasis (OR: 1.60 (0.68-3.74)) with TNBC. 18% of the patients reported about first-degree relatives with BC. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients presented in advanced stages and TNBC in their menopause. HR negative tumours were associated with poor histological differentiation and IDC. The high percentage of positive family history of BC and the differences in receptor patterns compared to other parts of the world should urge further genetic research on BC in SSA.

Bilateral Subdural Hematoma following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion in a Ten-month Old Tanzanian Female with Congenital Hydrocephalus: An Uncommon Presentation.

There is an unmet need for the treatment of hydrocephalus in Tanzania. Thousands of newborns each year in the region are affected by this condition and access to care remains a challenge. While treatment options like cerebrospinal fluid diversion through ventriculo-peritoneal shunting are within the skill set of general surgeons, the potential complications represent an additional challenge. We present a 10-month-old Tanzanian female who developed bilateral-subdural hematomas after insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Ectopia cordis: A case report of pre-surgical care in resource-limited setting.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Ectopia cordis is a rare congenital malformation of thoracic midline fusion that presents as location of the heart outside the open chest cavity. This presents as a surgical emergency and demands early and specialized intervention. Particularly in resource-limited settings, where prenatal ultrasonography screening is not done, these children are often born in facilities without the capability of managing such conditions definitively, necessitating them to be referred to a specialized centre. At lower health facilities, the challenge is in ensuring that the child is kept stable and protected from infection until they can reach a centre with the facilities required for care. This report describes the management give to such a child until they were successfully handed over to a cardiac institute. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a newborn male baby delivered at term to a mother from a low socio-economic background with his heart and abdominal viscera outside the thoracic and abdominal cavity. Despite presenting at a centre without cardiac surgery facilities or cardiologists, they were sustained until referral. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Ectopia cordis is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by defect in the fusion of the anterior chest wall resulting in the abnormal extra-thoracic location of the heart. Five types exist; cervical type with worst prognosis, attempts can be made to re-locate the heart and close the thoracic defect surgically. CONCLUSION: Even with limited resources, it is possible to provide the basic care necessary to sustain a child with this complex anomaly until definitive management can be provided.

Modified gastrostomy feeding tubes in patients with oesophageal cancer: our experience from Northern Tanzania.

Surgeons in resource-limited settings have adapted to overcome the challenges of the limitations of resources using different available methods and inventions from the local environment. We report four cases of oesophageal cancer palliatively treated with improvised gastrostomy feeding tubes by using 24Fr urinary catheters, to optimize their nutritional status to withstand chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Two patients managed to begin chemo and radiotherapy, but only one out of the four survived. The aim of this report is to appraise the methods used by surgeons to overcome the challenges they face in clinical practice.

Surgical service monitoring and quality control systems at district hospitals in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: In low-income and middle-income countries, an estimated one in three clinical adverse events happens in non-complex situations and 83% are preventable. Poor quality of care also leads to inefficient use of human, material and financial resources for health. Improving outcomes and mitigating the risk of adverse events require effective monitoring and quality control systems. AIM: To assess the state of surgical monitoring and quality control systems at district hospitals (DHs) in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. METHODS: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study of 75 DHs: Malawi (22), Tanzania (30) and Zambia (23). This included a questionnaire, interviews and visual inspection of operating theatre (OT) registers. Data were collected on monitoring and quality systems for surgical activity, processes and outcomes, as well as perceived barriers. RESULTS: 53% (n=40/75) of DHs use more than one OT register to record surgical operations. With the exception of standardised printed OT registers in Zambia, the register format (often handwritten books) and type of data collected varied between DHs. Monthly reports were seldom analysed by surgical teams. Less than 30% of all surveyed DHs used surgical safety checklists (n=22/75), and <15% (n=11/75) performed surgical audits. 73% (n=22/30) of DHs in Tanzania and less than half of DHs in Malawi (n=11/22) and Zambia (n=10/23) conducted surgical case reviews. Reports of surgical morbidity and mortality were compiled in 65% (n=15/23) of Zambian DHs, and in less than one-third of DHs in Tanzania (n=9/30) and Malawi (n=4/22). Reported barriers to monitoring and quality systems included an absence of formalised guidelines, continuous training opportunities as well as inadequate accountability mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical monitoring and quality control systems were not standard among sampled DHs. Improvements are needed in standardisation of quality measures used; and in ensuring data completeness, analysis and utilisation for improving patient outcomes.