Hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in West Africa: a timely capacity assessment.

BACKGROUND: West Africa has among the highest rates of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) malignancies in the world. Although surgery is critical for treatment, the availability of HPB surgery in Africa is unknown. This cross-sectional study investigated the current HPB surgical capacity of West African hospitals. METHOD: The Surgeons OverSeas Personnel, Infrastructure, Procedure, Equipment, and Supplies (PIPES) survey was modified to include HPB-specific parameters and quantify capacity. The survey was completed by consultant surgeons from West Africa. A PIPES index was calculated, and a higher score corresponded to greater HPB surgical capacity. RESULTS: The HPB PIPES survey was completed by 35 institutions from The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria. Most institutions (94.2%) were tertiary referral centres; five had an HPB-trained surgeon. The most commonly available procedure was an open cholecystectomy (91.4%), followed by gastric bypass (88.6%). Major hepatic resections (14.3%) and the Whipple procedure (17.1%) were rare. ICU capabilities were present at 88.6% of facilities while interventional radiology was present in 25.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first HPB capacity assessment in Africa. This study showed the limited availability of HPB surgery in West Africa. These results can be used for regional quality improvement initiatives and as a baseline for future capacity assessments.

The African Research Group for Oncology: A decade fostering colorectal cancer research in Nigeria.

The African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) was formed in 2013 to undertake methodologically rigorous cancer research in Nigeria, and to strengthen cancer research capacity in the country through training and mentorship of physicians, scientists, and other healthcare workers. Here, we describe how ARGO's work in colorectal cancer (CRC) has evolved over the past decade. This includes the consortium's scientific contributions to the understanding of CRC in Nigeria and globally and its research capacity-building program.

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), urgent action is needed to curb a growing crisis in cancer incidence and mortality. Without rapid interventions, data estimates show a major increase in cancer mortality from 520 348 in 2020 to about 1 million deaths per year by 2030. Here, we detail the state of cancer in SSA, recommend key actions on the basis of analysis, and highlight case studies and successful models that can be emulated, adapted, or improved across the region to reduce the growing cancer crises. Recommended actions begin with the need to develop or update national cancer control plans in each country. Plans must include childhood cancer plans, managing comorbidities such as HIV and malnutrition, a reliable and predictable supply of medication, and the provision of psychosocial, supportive, and palliative care. Plans should also engage traditional, complementary, and alternative medical practices employed by more than 80% of SSA populations and pathways to reduce missed diagnoses and late referrals. More substantial investment is needed in developing cancer registries and cancer diagnostics for core cancer tests. We show that investments in, and increased adoption of, some approaches used during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as hypofractionated radiotherapy and telehealth, can substantially increase access to cancer care in Africa, accelerate cancer prevention and control efforts, increase survival, and save billions of US dollars over the next decade. The involvement of African First Ladies in cancer prevention efforts represents one practical approach that should be amplified across SSA. Moreover, investments in workforce training are crucial to prevent millions of avoidable deaths by 2030. We present a framework that can be used to strategically plan cancer research enhancement in SSA, with investments in research that can produce a return on investment and help drive policy and effective collaborations. Expansion of universal health coverage to incorporate cancer into essential benefits packages is also vital. Implementation of the recommended actions in this Commission will be crucial for reducing the growing cancer crises in SSA and achieving political commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by a third by 2030.

Steps to the Adoption of Stapling Technique for Low Rectal Anastomoses in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Many patients who may otherwise benefit from anastomoses get a permanent colostomy for low rectal cancers in low- and middle-income countries because of lack of training and/or lack of equipment for low rectal anastomoses. Our local team provided stepwise training for stapled low rectal anastomoses. METHODS: Local surgeons with overseas formal training in colorectal surgeries facilitated periodical simulation-based training workshops on stapled low rectal anastomoses for surgeons and trainees over 3 y (2015-2017) in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Additional training with live surgeries was conducted. RESULT: Twenty-six participants, including 12 consultant surgeons and 14 senior registrars, concluded hand-on training modules in both wet and dry laboratory sessions. Two-thirds of them also had opportunities to assist during live surgeries. After initial training, stapled low rectal anastomoses were carried out by a team of consultants operating together. With time, locally trained residents assisted consultants in carrying out the procedures. Of the 198 colorectal procedures carried out within the study period, 18 (0.09%) were rectal resections and anastomoses, of which 14 were stapled low rectal anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: A locally facilitated simulation-based training program aided the adoption of a stapled technique of low rectal anastomoses in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. We propose that such training can promote the adoption of other modern techniques in our tertiary surgical practices.

Racial Differences in the Phenotype of Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Comparison Between Nigeria and South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: There are significant differences in the phenotype of CRC by race in the U.S. A similar CRC phenotype-race relationship also appears to exist in South Africa (SA). However, there is a paucity of comparative data on the presentation and survival of CRC in sub-Saharan African by country of origin or race. This study compares clinicopathologic variables between CRC patients in Nigeria and SA. METHODS: From a prospective CRC database, consecutive patients diagnosed between September, 2013 and October, 2018 from the African Research Group for Oncology in South West Nigeria were compared to consecutive patients diagnosed from January, 2016 to October, 2018 from the Colorectal Cancer in South Africa database. Patients with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma were included. Patients were excluded if they had in-situ disease or no histological diagnosis. Clinical outcomes were calculated from the date of presentation. National census categories were used to define self-reported race in SA. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation in Nigeria (n = 347) was 54.1 years (SD 15.5) compared to 56.8 (SD 13.7) in SA (n = 534). The median age among Black SA (BSA) patients was significantly lower than the median age among White SA (WSA) patients (55 vs. 63, p < 0.001). Right-sided colon cancer was more common in Nigerian (27.4%) and BSA (21.2%) patients compared to WSA patients (15.2%, p < 0.001). Nigerian (39.1%) and BSA (16.7%) patients were also more likely to present with mucinous histology than WSA patients (4.9%, p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the stage-at-presentation between the cohorts, with a large burden of stage IV disease in the Nigerian cohort (52.6%). Adjusting for stage-at-presentation, there was a significant difference in the median overall survival between country and racial cohorts. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in the phenotype of CRC between Nigeria and SA. Nigerian and BSA patients, appear to share characteristics that are different than those of WSA patients. Larger series with tissue banking and next-generation sequencing are needed to better delineate these observed differences.

Geospatial access predicts cancer stage at presentation and outcomes for patients with breast cancer in southwest Nigeria: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The majority of women in Nigeria present with advanced-stage breast cancer. To address the role of geospatial access, we constructed a geographic information-system-based model to evaluate the relationship between modeled travel time, stage at presentation, and overall survival among patients with breast cancer in Nigeria. METHODS: Consecutive patients were identified from a single-institution, prospective breast cancer database (May 2009-January 2019). Patients were geographically located, and travel time to the hospital was generated using a cost-distance model that utilized open-source data. The relationships between travel time, stage at presentation, and overall survival were evaluated with logistic regression and survival analyses. Models were adjusted for age, level of education, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: From 635 patients, 609 were successfully geographically located. The median age of the cohort was 49 years (interquartile range [IQR], 40-58 years); 84% presented with ≥stage III disease. Overall, 46.5% underwent surgery; 70.8% received systemic chemotherapy. The median estimated travel time for the cohort was 45 minutes (IQR, 7.9-79.3 minutes). Patients in the highest travel-time quintile had a 2.8-fold increase in the odds of presenting with stage III or IV disease relative to patients in the lowest travel-time quintile (P = .006). Travel time ≥30 minutes was associated with an increased risk of death (HR, 1.65; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Geospatial access to a tertiary care facility is independently associated with stage at presentation and overall survival among patients with breast cancer in Nigeria. Addressing disparities in access will be essential to ensure the development of an equitable health policy.

Opportunities for Improvement in the Administration of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for T4 Breast Cancer: A Comparison of the U.S. and Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is an integral component of T4 breast cancer (BCa) treatment. We compared response to NAC for T4 BCa in the U.S. and Nigeria to direct future interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective analysis included all patients with non-metastatic T4 BCa treated from 2010 to 2016 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, New York) and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (Ile Ife, Nigeria). Pathologic complete response (pCR) and survival were compared and factors contributing to disparities evaluated. RESULTS: Three hundred and eight patients met inclusion criteria: 157 (51%) in the U.S. and 151 (49%) in Nigeria. All U.S. patients received NAC and surgery compared with 93 (62%) Nigerian patients. Fifty-six out of ninety-three (60%) Nigerian patients completed their prescribed course of NAC. In Nigeria, older age and higher socioeconomic status were associated with treatment receipt. Fewer patients in Nigeria had immunohistochemistry performed (100% U.S. vs. 18% Nigeria). Of those with available receptor subtype, 18% (28/157) of U.S. patients were triple negative versus 39% (9/23) of Nigerian patients. Overall pCR was seen in 27% (42/155) of U.S. patients and 5% (4/76) of Nigerian patients. Five-year survival was significantly shorter in Nigeria versus the U.S. (61% vs. 72%). However, among the subset of patients who received multimodality therapy, including NAC and surgery with curative intent, 5-year survival (67% vs. 72%) and 5-year recurrence-free survival (48% vs. 61%) did not significantly differ between countries. CONCLUSION: Addressing health system, socioeconomic, and psychosocial barriers is necessary for administration of complete NAC to improve BCa outcomes in Nigeria. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This cross-sectional retrospective analysis of patients with T4 breast cancer in Nigeria and the U.S. found a significant difference in pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (5% Nigeria vs. 27% U.S.). Five-year survival was shorter in Nigeria, but in patients receiving multimodality treatment, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery with curative intent, 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival did not differ between countries. Capacity-building efforts in Nigeria should focus on access to pathology services to direct systemic therapy and promoting receipt of complete chemotherapy to improve outcomes.

Academic Partnerships in Global Surgery: An Overview American Surgical Association Working Group on Academic Global Surgery.

: Most surgeons from high-income countries who work in global surgery will do so through partnerships between their institutions and institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this article, the American Surgical Association Working Group for Global Surgery lays out recommendations for criteria that contribute to equitable, sustainable, and effective partnerships. These include ethically engaging with the LMIC partner institution by putting its interests first and by proactively seeking to be aware of cultural issues. Formally structuring the partnership with a memorandum of understanding and clearly designating leaders at both institutions are important criteria for assuring long-term sustainability. Needs assessments can be done using existing methods, such as those established for development of national surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia plans. Such assessments help to identify opportunities for partnerships to be most effective in addressing the biggest surgical needs in the LMIC. Examples of successful high-income countries-LMIC partnerships are provided.

Treatment of colorectal cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: Results from a prospective Nigerian hospital registry.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Mortality for CRC is improving in high income countries, but in low and middle income countries, rates of disease and death from disease are rising. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the ratio of CRC mortality to incidence is the highest in the world. This study investigated the nature of CRC treatment currently being offered and received in Nigeria. METHODS: Between April 2013 and October 2017, a prospective study of consecutively diagnosed cases of CRC was conducted. Patient demographics, clinical features, and treatment recommended and received was recorded for each case. Patients were followed during the study period every 3 months or until death. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were included in our analysis. Seventy-one percent of patients received a recommended surgical operation. Of those that didn't undergo surgery as recommended, 37% cited cost as the main reason, 30% declined due to personal reasons, and less than 5% absconded or were lost to follow up. Approximately half of patients (50.5%) received a chemotherapy regimen when it was recommended, and 4.1% received radiotherapy when this was advised as optimal treatment. With therapy, the median overall survival for patients diagnosed with stage III and stage IV CRC was 24 and 10.5 months respectively. Overall, we found significantly better median survival for patients that received the recommended treatment (25 vs 7 months; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: A number of patients were unable to receive the recommended treatment, reflecting some of the burden of untreated CRC in the region. Receiving the recommended treatment was associated with a significant difference in outcome. Improved healthcare financing, literacy, training, access, and a better understanding of tumor biology will be necessary to address this discrepancy.

An Exploratory Analysis of Fecal Immunochemical Test Performance for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for hemoglobin is recommended for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in resource-limited environments. However, there are several unique variables that may alter FIT performance in this setting, including endemic intestinal parasites and high ambient temperature. This prospective study evaluated the performance of FIT in asymptomatic, average-risk individuals of screening age in rural Nigeria. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-four community volunteers completed a questionnaire and provided stool specimens for parasitology and microbiome analysis. Specimens were frozen and stored at -80 °C. Of 324 subjects, 139 met criteria for average-risk CRC screening and had a stool sample for analysis. These were thawed and tested with a qualitative FIT. Specimens positive for occult blood were retested every two days to evaluate the impact of time and temperature on test performance. RESULTS: Of 139 individuals, 69 (49.6%) were positive for intestinal parasites and 10 (7.2%) were positive for occult blood. The most common pathogen was Cryptosporidium (40.6%). Among patients with intestinal parasites, 10.1% (7/69) had a positive FIT. Only 4.3% (3/70) of patients without parasites had a positive FIT (p = 0.208). On bivariate analysis, sociodemographic variables were not associated with a positive FIT result. Thirty percent (3/10) of the FIT-positive specimens became FIT-negative with routine storage. CONCLUSION: Although a positive FIT result was more common in those with parasitic infection, the relationship was not significant in this small cohort. The impact of high ambient temperature on test positivity may necessitate shorter processing time guidelines for equatorial countries. Additional prospective studies are needed to validate FIT performance in Nigeria.

Barriers to mammography screening in Nigeria: A survey of two communities with different access to screening facilities.

Delayed presentation of breast cancer is a common theme in most low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluates barriers to mammography screening in two Nigerian communities with different geographic access to screening facilities. A 35 item questionnaire was administered to women, 40 years and older, 1,169 (52.6%) in Ife Central Local Government where mammography services are offered and 1,053 (47.4%) in Iwo Local Government where there are no mammography units. Information on breast cancer screening practices and barriers to mammography screening were compared between the two communities. Most women had heard of breast cancer (Ife 94%, Iwo 97%), but few were aware of mammography (Ife 11.8%, Iwo 11.4%). Mammography uptake in Ife Central was 2.8% and 1.8% in Iwo, despite the former offering mammography services. Knowledge and practice of mammography were not statistically different between the two communities (p = 0.74, 0.1). Lack of awareness was the commonest reason cited for not having mammography in both communities. Others include lack of perceived need and cost. Awareness creation to ensure optimal utilisation of existing facilities, as well as innovative measures to address the barrier of cost, is required to improve breast cancer screening uptake in Nigeria.

Establishing a Cancer Research Consortium in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned.

PURPOSE: There is an increasing effort in the global public health community to strengthen research capacity in low- and middle-income countries, but there is no consensus on how best to approach such endeavors. Successful consortia that perform research on HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases exist, but few papers have been published detailing the challenges faced and lessons learned in setting up and running a successful research consortium. METHODS: Members of the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) participated in generating lessons learned regarding the foundation and maintenance of a cancer research consortium in Nigeria. RESULTS: Drawing on our experience of founding ARGO, we describe steps and key factors needed to establish a successful collaborative consortium between researchers from both high- and low-income countries. In addition, we present challenges we encountered in building our consortium, and how we managed those challenges. Although our research group is focused primarily on cancer, many of our lessons learned can be applied more widely in biomedical or public health research in low-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: As the need for cancer care in LMICs continues to grow, the ability to create sustainable, innovative, collaborative research groups will become vital. Assessing the successes and failures that occur in creating and sustaining research consortia in LMICs is important for expansion of research and training capacity in LMICs.

Establishing translational and clinical cancer research collaborations between high- and low-income countries.

Both infectious and noninfectious related malignancies are a growing problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). It is difficult to extrapolate data and guidelines regarding cancer care from high-income countries (HIC) to cancer patients in LMIC. Due to the rise in noncommunicable cancer rates, there is a widening gap between the need for evidence-based treatments for cancer control plans and existing research capabilities. Surgeons frequently provide all surgical and medical oncology treatments for patients in LMIC for diseases, such as breast, gastric, cervical, and colorectal cancers. Surgical oncology clinical and translational research collaborations, however, are lacking. There are several successful consortiums that focus on HIV- and infectious-related malignancies. These collaborations can be used as an example for future surgical research efforts. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center-Nigerian collaboration that is concentrating on colorectal cancer is used as an example of how to initiate a research collaboration that can build research infrastructure and provide the necessary data to generate realistic treatment guidelines. The need for expanded surgical oncology research and the growing population of patients with noninfectious-related malignancies in LMIC has created a unique opportunity for surgeons to initiate and lead clinical and translational research collaborations between HIC and LMIC.

Management of overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a low resource setting: a real world report from Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains a common medical problem worldwide that has significant associated morbidity, mortality, and health care resource use. This study outlines the aetiology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes of patients with UGIB in a Nigerian low resource health facility. METHODS: This was a descriptive study of consecutive patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for upper GI bleeding in the endoscopy unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria from January 2007 to December 2013. RESULTS: During the study period, 287 (12.4%) of 2,320 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopies had UGIB. Of these, 206 (72.0%) patients were males and their ages ranged from 3 to 100 years with a median age of 49 years. The main clinical presentation included passage of melaena stool in 268 (93.4%) of individuals, 173 (60.3%) had haematemesis, 110 (38.3%) had haematochezia, and 161 (56.1%) were dizzy at presentation. Observed in 88 (30.6%) of UGIB patients, duodenal ulcer was the most common cause, followed by varices [52 (18.1%)] and gastritis [51 (17.1%)]. For variceal bleeding, 15 (28.8%) and 21 (40.4%) of patients had injection sclerotherapy and variceal band ligation, respectively. The overall rebleeding rate for endoscopic therapy for varices was 16.7%. For patients with ulcers, only 42 of 55 who had Forrest grade Ia to IIb ulcers were offered endoscopic therapy. Endoscopic therapy was áin 90.5% of the cases. No rebleeding followed endoscopic therapy for the ulcers. The obtained Rockall scores ranged from 2 to 10 and the median was 5.0. Of all patients, 92.7% had medium or high risk scores. An increase in Rockall score was significantly associated with length of hospital stay and mortality (p < 0.001). The overall mortality rate was 5.9% (17 patients). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic therapy for UGIB in a resource-poor setting such as Nigeria is feasible, significantly reduces morbidity and mortality, and is cost effective. Efforts should be made to improve the accessibility of these therapeutic procedure for patients with UGIB in Nigeria.

Treatment of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cancer is rapidly becoming a public health crisis in low-income and middle-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, patients often present with advanced disease. Little health-care infrastructure exists, and few personnel are available for the care of patients. Surgeons are often central to cancer care in the region, since they can be the only physician a patient sees for diagnosis, treatment (including chemotherapy), and palliative care. Poor access to surgical care is a major impediment to cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa. Additional obstacles include the cost of oncological care, poor infrastructure, and the scarcity of medical oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, and other health-care workers who are needed for cancer care. We describe treatment options for patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on the role of surgery in relation to medical and radiation oncology, and argue that surgery must be included in public health efforts to improve cancer care in the region.

Insulinoma Presenting as Seizures: Challenges of Managing a Rare Disease in a Resource-challenged Setting.

Insulinomas are functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). They secrete insulin, and hence, present with hypoglycemia. We report a case of insulinoma in a 16-year-old girl presenting as seizures. She was initially managed at a private clinic and later commenced on carbamazepine when convulsion persisted. Convulsions were generalized, associated with dizziness and altered sensorium, often preceded by hunger and physical exertion, but relieved by the intake of carbonated drinks and fruit juice. She was referred to the neurology clinic when seizures persisted, despite the use of anticonvulsant. She was later referred to the endocrine clinic on suspicion of insulinoma when her random blood glucose (BG) was found to be low during an episode of convulsion. She was moderately obese but other examination findings were normal. She had a 72-hour prolonged fast, which was terminated when hypoglycemia (BG = 2.2 mmol/L) ensued after 12 hours, with elevated serum insulin and C-peptide. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a pancreatic tumor suggestive of insulinoma. She subsequently had distal pancreatectomy performed with complete resolution of symptoms. Unusual presentation of insulinoma may delay diagnosis, resulting in wastage of resources with increased morbidities and mortality.

Feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer stigma in Nigeria: a pilot study.

Effective communication about cancer diagnosis and prognosis in sub-Saharan African oncology settings is often challenged by the cancer-related shame and stigma patients and families experience. Enhancing empathic communication between health care providers, including physicians and nurses, and oncology patients and their families can not only reduce cancer stigma but also improve patient engagement, treatment satisfaction, and quality of life. To reduce lung cancer stigma, we adapted an evidence-based empathic communication skills training intervention to reduce patients' experience of stigma in Nigeria and conducted a pilot study examining the feasibility and acceptability of the empathic communication skills training. Thirty health care providers, recruited from University College Hospital, Ibadan, and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, participated in a 2.25-hour didactic and experiential training session. Participant surveys were completed before and after the training. Overall, participants reported highly favorable training evaluations, with at least 85% of health care providers agreeing or strongly agreeing to survey items assessing training relevance, novelty, clarity, and facilitator effectiveness. Self-efficacy to communicate empathically with patients increased significantly from before-training (Mean [SD] = 3.93 [0.28]) to after-training (Mean [SD] = 4.55 [0.15]; t29 = 3.51, P < .05). Significant improvements were observed in health care provider reports of empathy toward lung cancer survivors and attitude toward lung cancer care as well as significant reductions in lung cancer blame were noted. The empathic communication skills training was feasible, well received by oncology clinicians in Nigeria, and demonstrated improvements in health care provider-reported outcomes from before- to after-training.

Local adaptations aid establishment of laparoscopic surgery in a semiurban Nigerian hospital.

BACKGROUND: Establishing and sustaining the routine practice of laparoscopy in resource-limited settings is extremely challenging. We present our experience implementing laparoscopic surgery at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Western Nigeria and the associated modifications that were necessary for success. METHODS: We reviewed all laparoscopic cases performed at our institution from January 2009 through December 2011. Operating surgeons were trained locally. Laparoscopic equipment and instrumentation was procured by both local and foreign sources. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one procedures were performed in 175 patients whose ages ranged between 18 and 72 years. The procedures included cholecystectomies (n = 48, 24.5 %), appendectomies (n = 36, 20 %), diagnostic laparoscopies for staging and biopsy of intra-abdominal masses (n = 53, 30.9 %), adhesiolyses (n = 18, 11.6 %), hernia repairs (n = 6, 3.2 %), colorectal surgeries (n = 2, 1.3 %), and others (n = 18, 8.4 %). Diagnostic procedures were performed as day cases. Duration of stay for hospital admissions was 1-3 days. There were four conversions to open operation due to technical difficulties with equipment. No deaths were recorded. Local adaptation techniques facilitated cost reduction. Overall, there was improvement in the acceptance of the laparoscopic procedures among our patients and coworkers. CONCLUSION: Our local institution has successfully adopted laparoscopic techniques to treat surgical diseases. Specific improvisations have helped establish and sustain this technology. We advocate similar local adaptations to increase the use of laparoscopic surgery in hospitals located in limited resource settings.

Population-Level Access to Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis in Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Mammography, breast ultrasound (US), and US-guided breast biopsy are essential services for breast cancer early detection and diagnosis. This study undertook a comprehensive evaluation to determine population-level access to these services for breast cancer early detection and diagnosis in Nigeria using a previously validated geographic information system (GIS) model. METHODS: A comprehensive list of public and private facilities offering mammography, breast US, and US-guided breast biopsy was compiled using publicly available facility data and a survey administered nationally to Nigerian radiologists. All facilities were geolocated. A cost-distance model using open-source population density (GeoData Institute) and road network data (OpenStreetMap) was used to estimate population-level travel time to the nearest facility for mammography, breast US, and US-guided biopsy using GIS software (ArcMAP). RESULTS: In total, 1,336 facilities in Nigeria provide breast US, of which 47.8% (639 of 1,336) are public facilities, and 218 provide mammography, of which 45.4% (99 of 218) are public facilities. Of the facilities that provide breast US, only 2.5% (33 of 1,336) also provide US-guided breast biopsy. At the national level, 83.1% have access to either US or mammography and 61.7% have access to US-guided breast biopsy within 120 minutes of a continuous one-way travel. There are differences in access to mammography (64.8% v 80.6% with access at 120 minutes) and US-guided breast biopsy (49.0% v 77.1% with access at 120 minutes) between the northern and southern Nigeria and between geopolitical zones. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive evaluation of breast cancer detection and diagnostic services in Nigeria, which demonstrates geospatial inequalities in access to mammography and US-guided biopsy. Targeted investment is needed to improve access to these essential cancer care services in the northern region and the North East geopolitical zone.

Laparoscopic appendectomy in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic appendectomy in a setting where resources are poor is still controversial. This study evaluates the impact of laparoscopy on the early outcome of acute appendicitis in a developing country. METHODS: All patients who underwent appendectomy from January 2010 through June 2011 at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria were recruited for this study. RESULTS: Of the 139 patients with acute appendicitis within the study period, 83 (59.7%) had open appendectomy (OA), 19 (13.7%) whose clinical and radiological findings suggested complicated appendicitis at presentation had laparotomy, while 37 (26.6%) had laparoscopic procedures. In the laparoscopy group, initial diagnostic laparoscopy in 4 (10.8%) patients revealed a normal appendix along with other findings that precluded appendectomy. Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) was then performed in 33 (23.7%) patients with 2 of these (6.1%) requiring conversion to open laparotomy. Mean time for the LA procedure was higher than that observed for OA (56.2 vs 38.9 min). Patients in the LA group had a shorter mean postoperative stay (1.8 vs 3.0). Wound infection occurred in 2 (6.5%) patients from the LA group and 8 (9.6%) from OA. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendectomy reduced the rate of unnecessary appendectomy and postoperative hospital stay in our patients, potentially reducing crowding in our surgical wards. We advocate increased use of laparoscopy especially in young women.