Pediatric surgical care in Lilongwe, Malawi: outcomes and opportunities for improvement.

BACKGROUND: One of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals is to improve child health. We describe the burden of pediatric surgical disease at a tertiary hospital in Malawi. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a pediatric surgery database at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Malawi for the calendar year 2012. Variables included patient demographics, admission diagnosis, primary surgery and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 1170 pediatric patients aged 0-17 years were admitted to the surgical service during the study period. The mean age was 6.9 years, and 62% were male. Trauma was the most common indication for admission (51%, n = 596), and 67% (n = 779) of all patients were managed non-operatively. Neonates and patients managed non-operatively had a significantly increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: Only a third of patients admitted to the pediatric surgery service underwent surgery. More than half of patients with congenital anomalies did not undergo surgical intervention. Importantly, patients who underwent surgery had a survival advantage.