Comparison of Operative Logbook Experience of Australian General Surgical Trainees With Surgeons Deployed on Humanitarian Missions: What Can Be Learnt for the Future?

OBJECTIVE: General surgical training in Australia has undergone considerable change in recent years with less exposure to other areas of surgery. General surgeons from many high-income countries have played important roles in assisting with the provision of surgical care in low- and middle-income countries during sudden-onset disasters (SODs) as part of emergency medical teams (EMTs). It is not known if contemporary Australian general surgeons are receiving the broad surgical training required for work in EMTs. DESIGN: Logbook data on the surgical procedures performed by Australian general surgical trainees were obtained from General Surgeons Australia (GSA) for the time period February 2008 to February 2017. Surgical procedures performed by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) surgeons during 5 projects in 3 SODs (the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2013 Philippines typhoon and the 2015 Nepal earthquake) were obtained from previously published data for 6 months following each disaster. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was carried out at the University of Sydney with input from MSF Operational Centre Brussels and GSA. RESULTS: Australian general surgical trainees performed a mean of 2107 surgical procedures (excluding endoscopy) during their training (10 6-month rotations). Common procedures included abdominal wall hernia repairs (268, 12.7%), cholecystectomies (247, 11.8%), and specialist colorectal procedures (242, 11.5%). MSF surgeons performed a total of 3542 surgical procedures across the 5 projects analyzed. Common procedures included Caesarean sections (443, 12.5%), wound debridement (1115, 31.5%), and other trauma-related procedures (472, 13.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Australian general surgical trainees receive exposure to both essential and advanced general surgery but lack exposure to specialty procedures including the obstetric and orthopedic procedures commonly performed by MSF surgeons after SODs. Further training in these areas would likely be beneficial for general surgeons prior to deployment with an EMT.

Introduction of a standardised protocol, including systematic use of tranexamic acid, for management of severe adult trauma patients in a low-resource setting: the MSF experience from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding is an important cause of death in trauma victims. In 2010, the CRASH-2 study, a multicentre randomized control trial on the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration to trauma patients with suspected significant bleeding, reported a decreased mortality in randomized patients compared to placebo. Currently, no evidence on the use of TXA in humanitarian, low-resource settings is available. We aimed to measure the hospital outcomes of adult patients with severe traumatic bleeding in the Médecins Sans Frontières Tabarre Trauma Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, before and after the implementation of a Massive Haemorrhage protocol including systematic early administration of TXA. METHODS: Patients admitted over comparable periods of four months (December2015- March2016 and December2016 - March2017) before and after the implementation of the Massive Haemorrhage protocol were investigated. Included patients had blunt or penetrating trauma, a South Africa Triage Score ≥ 7, were aged 18-65 years and were admitted within 3 h from the traumatic event. Measured outcomes were hospital mortality and early mortality rates, in-hospital time to discharge and time to discharge from intensive care unit. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixteen patients met inclusion criteria. Patients treated after the introduction of the Massive Haemorrhage protocol had about 70% less chance of death during hospitalization compared to the group "before" (adjusted odds ratio 0.3, 95%confidence interval 0.1-0.8). They also had a significantly shorter hospital length of stay (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a Massive Haemorrhage protocol including early administration of TXA was associated with the reduced mortality and hospital stay of severe adult blunt and penetrating trauma patients in a context with poor resources and limited availability of blood products.

Delays in arrival and treatment in emergency departments: Women, children and non-trauma consultations the most at risk in humanitarian settings.

INTRODUCTION: Delays in arrival and treatment at health facilities lead to negative health outcomes. Individual and external factors could be associated with these delays. This study aimed to assess common factors associated with arrival and treatment delays in the emergency departments (ED) of three hospitals in humanitarian settings. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study based on routine data collected from three MSF-supported hospitals in Afghanistan, Haiti and Sierra Leone. We calculated the proportion of consultations with delay in arrival (>24 hours) and in treatment (based on target time according to triage categories). We used a multinomial logistic regression model (MLR) to analyse the association between age, sex, hospital and diagnosis (trauma and non-trauma) with these delays. RESULTS: We included 95,025 consultations. Males represented 65.2%, Delay in arrival was present in 27.8% of cases and delay in treatment in 27.2%. The MLR showed higher risk of delay in arrival for females (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.2-1.3), children <5 (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.4-1.5), patients attending to Gondama (OR 30.0, 95% CI 25.6-35.3) and non-trauma cases (OR 4.7, 95% CI 4.4-4.8). A higher risk of delay in treatment was observed for females (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.1), children <5 (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.9-2.1), patients attending to Martissant (OR 14.6, 95% CI 13.9-15.4) and non-trauma cases (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.5-1.7). CONCLUSIONS: Women, children <5 and non-trauma cases suffered most from delays. These delays could relate to educational and cultural barriers, and severity perception of the disease. Treatment delay could be due to insufficient resources with consequent overcrowding, and severity perception from medical staff for non-trauma patients. Extended community outreach, health promotion and support to community health workers could improve emergency care in humanitarian settings.

Emergency department care for trauma patients in settings of active conflict versus urban violence: all of the same calibre?

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a leading cause of death and represents a major problem in developing countries where access to good quality emergency care is limited. Médecins Sans Frontières delivered a standard package of care in two trauma emergency departments (EDs) in different violence settings: Kunduz, Afghanistan, and Tabarre, Haiti. This study aims to assess whether this standard package resulted in similar performance in these very different contexts. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using routine programme data, comparing patient characteristics and outcomes in two EDs over the course of 2014. RESULTS: 31 158 patients presented to the EDs: 22 076 in Kunduz and 9082 in Tabarre. Patient characteristics, such as delay in presentation (29.6% over 24 h in Kunduz, compared to 8.4% in Tabarre), triage score, and morbidity pattern differed significantly between settings. Nevertheless, both EDs showed an excellent performance, demonstrating low proportions of mortality (0.1% for both settings) and left without being seen (1.3% for both settings), and acceptable triage performance. Physicians' maximum working capacity was exceeded in both centres, and mainly during rush hours. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports for the first time the plausibility of using the same ED package in different settings. Mapping of patient attendance is essential for planning of human resources needs.

Reduciendo la Mortalidad Materna en zonas de conflicto: Experiencia quirúrgica-anestésica en el Hospital Boost, Afganistán / Reducing maternal mortality in conflict areas: Surgical-anesthetic experience in Boost Hospital - Afghanistan

Introduction: Helmand province, whose capital is Lashkar-Gah, is one of the most volatile provinces affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Doctors without Borders began to work in Boost Hospital in 2009. Method: Retrospective review of surgical procedures at the Doctors without Borders Operational Center in Brussels, February 11, 2010 to September 30, 2012. Results: 5719 surgeries were performed on 4334 patients. 47% were emergency interventions and 75% were first interventions. 39.7% (n = 1721) of patients were female. In the Gyneco-obstetric (G) area, the average age was 31.3 years. 848 Cesarean operations (76%) were performed and 95% of these were urgent. Of these patients (n = 598) 64% were at ASA II. Spinal anesthesia (SA) was administered in 44.4% (n = 415) of patients, followed by general anesthesia without intubation (GA-) in 39.3% (n = 367). In 16% (n = 151), general anesthesia was administered with endotracheal intubation (GA+). Transoperatory mortality was 0.8% (n=7). Conclusions: The Boost Hospital offers a surgical service of relevance in the south of Afghanistan. This hospital is supported by Doctors without Borders (MSF) and has helped to reduce the maternal mortality in that region through the provision of quality care in obstetric emergencies. By applying health standards, and medical teams and material, MSF has helped the Afghan population, particularly gestating mothers, to improve its health while achieving a transoperatory mortality in Cesareans of <1%.

Introducción: Helmand cuya capital es Lashkar-Gah es una de las provincias más volátiles entre las más afectadas por conflictos en Afganistán. Médicos sin Fronteras empezó a trabajar en el Hospital Boost en 2009. Método: Revisión retrospectiva de procedimientos quirúrgicos en Médicos sin Fronteras-Centro Operacional de Bruselas del 11 de febrero de 2010 al 30 de septiembre de 2012. Resultados: Se realizaron 5719 cirugías a 4334 pacientes, siendo de urgencia un 47% y primera intervención un 75%. 39.7% (n = 1721) de pacientes fueron de género femenino. En relación al área Gineco-obstétrica (G), la edad media fue de 31.3 años. Se realizaron 848 cesáreas (76%) de las cuales el 95% fueron urgentes. De estas pacientes (n = 598) el 64% era ASA II. En cuanto al tipo de anestesia, se administró Anestesia espinal (SA) en un 44.4% (n = 415), seguido de anestesia general sin intubación (GA-) en un 39.3% (n = 367), y en un 16% (n = 151) se administró anestesia general con intubación endotraqueal (GA+); con una mortalidad transoperatoria de 0.8% (n = 7). Conclusiones: El Hospital Boost brinda un servicio quirúrgico de relevancia en el sur de Afganistán. Dicho hospital es apoyado por Médicos sin Fronteras (MSF), lo cual ha ayudado a reducir la mortalidad materna en esa región con la provisión de asistencia de calidad en emergencias obstétricas. Con la aplicación de estándares de salud, equipo, y material médico, MSF ha logrado que la población afgana, y particularmente las gestantes, mejore su salud, logrando una mortalidad transoperatoria de intervenciones por Cesáreas de < 1%.

Anatomic variations of the branches of the aortic arch in a Peruvian population.

PURPOSE: Previous publications from two countries in South America found one anatomical variation not previously reported in the rest of the world, which in turn give some clues with regard to a racial difference. The objective of the present study is to describe variations in the anatomical distribution of the branches of the aortic arch in a Peruvian population. OBJECTIVE: To describe variations in the anatomical distribution of the branches of the aortic arch in a Peruvian population. METHODS: A descriptive study of patients who underwent a tomography angiography of the aorta was performed. We analyzed the reports that showed the description of the variations of the branches of the aortic arch based on the eight types currently described in the literature. RESULTS: From 361 analyzed reports, 282 patients (78.12%) had a normal aortic arch configuration (type I; aortic arch gives rise to the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian arteries); followed by type II (left common carotid artery as a branch of the aorta) with 41 patients (11.36%); and type IX (common ostium for the brachiocephalic trunk and the left common carotid artery) with 25 patients (6.93%). The latter and two other types are new variations. CONCLUSION: Aortic Arch Type I, Type II and Type IX were the most frequent variations in this Peruvian study. Additionally, we also found two more new types that have not been previously described in the literature. Further investigation regarding these variations is needed in order to assess a racial factor in South America and possible relationships with clinical or surgical events.

INTRODUCCIÓN : Reportes previos en dos países de América del Sur encontraron una variante anatómica que no había sido reportada en el resto del mundo, lo que podría dar indicios acerca de una diferencia racial. OBJETIVO: Describir las variaciones en la distribución anatómica de las ramas del arco aórtico en una población peruana. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de una serie de casos de personas en quienes se realizó una angiografía por tomografía de la aorta torácica. Se analizaron los informes que registraron la descripción de las variaciones de las ramas del arco aórtico, basados en los ocho tipos descritos por la literatura científica. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 361 informes. Se encontró que 282 pacientes (78,12%) tuvieron la configuración clásica (tipo I, arco aórtico que da origen al tronco braquiocefálico, a la carótida común izquierda y a la subclavia izquierda), seguido por el tipo II (arteria carótida común izquierda como rama del tronco braquiocefálico) con 41 pacientes (11,36%), y el tipo IX (un ostium común para el tronco braquiocefálico y la carótida común izquierda) con 25 pacientes (6,93%). Este último y otros dos tipos resultaron ser nuevas variantes del arco aórtico. CONCLUSIÓN: En esta serie de casos peruana, los tipos de arco aórtico I, II y IX fueron los más frecuentes. Adicionalmente, se encontraron otros dos tipos nuevos que no habían sido descritos en la literatura previamente. Es necesario profundizar la investigación sobre estas variantes para evaluar el factor racial en Sudamérica y una posible relación con eventos clínicos o quirúrgicos.

Orthopaedic surgery in natural disaster and conflict settings: how can quality care be ensured?

PURPOSE: Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the main providers of orthopaedic surgery in natural disaster and conflict settings and strictly imposes a minimum set of context-specific standards before any surgery can be performed. Based on MSF's experience of performing orthopaedic surgery in a number of such settings, we describe: (a) whether it was possible to implement the minimum standards for one of the more rigorous orthopaedic procedures--internal fixation--and when possible, the time frame, (b) the volume and type of interventions performed and (c) the intra-operative mortality rates and postoperative infection rates. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of routine programme data collected between 2007 and 2014 from three MSF emergency surgical interventions in Haiti (following the 2010 earthquake) and three ongoing MSF projects in Kunduz (Afghanistan), Masisi (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Tabarre (Haiti). RESULTS: The minimum standards for internal fixation were achieved in one emergency intervention site in Haiti, and in Kunduz and Tabarre, taking up to 18 months to implement in Kunduz. All sites achieved the minimum standards to perform amputations, reductions and external fixations, with a total of 9,409 orthopaedic procedures performed during the study period. Intraoperative mortality rates ranged from 0.6 to 1.9 % and postoperative infection rates from 2.4 to 3.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: In settings affected by natural disaster or conflict, a high volume and wide repertoire of orthopaedic surgical procedures can be performed with good outcomes when minimum standards are in place. More demanding procedures like internal fixation may not always be feasible.

Improving effective surgical delivery in humanitarian disasters: lessons from Haiti.

Kathryn Chu and colleagues describe the experiences of Médecins sans Frontières after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and discuss how to improve delivery of surgery in humanitarian disasters.

Ten years of experience training non-physician anesthesia providers in Haiti.

Surgery is increasingly recognized as an effective means of treating a proportion of the global burden of disease, especially in resource-limited countries. Often non-physicians, such as nurses, provide the majority of anesthesia; however, their training and formal supervision is often of low priority or even non-existent. To increase the number of safe anesthesia providers in Haiti, Médecins Sans Frontières has trained nurse anesthetists (NAs) for over 10 years. This article describes the challenges, outcomes, and future directions of this training program. From 1998 to 2008, 24 students graduated. Nineteen (79%) continue to work as NAs in Haiti and 5 (21%) have emigrated. In 2008, NAs were critical in providing anesthesia during a post-hurricane emergency where they performed 330 procedures. Mortality was 0.3% and not associated with lack of anesthesiologist supervision. The completion rate of this training program was high and the majority of graduates continue to work as nurse anesthetists in Haiti. Successful training requires a setting with a sufficient volume and diversity of operations, appropriate anesthesia equipment, a structured and comprehensive training program, and recognition of the training program by the national ministry of health and relevant professional bodies. Preliminary outcomes support findings elsewhere that NAs can be a safe and effective alternative where anesthesiologists are scarce. Training non-physician anesthetists is a feasible and important way to scale up surgical services resource limited settings.

Mortality profiles in a country facing epidemiological transition: an analysis of registered data.

BACKGROUND: Sub-national analyses of causes of death and time-trends help to define public health policy priorities. They are particularly important in countries undergoing epidemiological transition like Peru. There are no studies exploring Peruvian national and regional characteristics of such epidemiological transition. We aimed to describe Peru's national and regional mortality profiles between 1996 and 2000. METHODS: Registered mortality data for the study period were corrected for under-registration following standardized methods. Main causes of death by age group and by geographical region were determined. Departmental mortality profiles were constructed to evaluate mortality transition, using 1996 data as baseline. Annual cumulative slopes for the period 1996-2000 were estimated for each department and region. RESULTS: For the study period non-communicable diseases explained more than half of all causes of death, communicable diseases more than one third, and injuries 10.8% of all deaths. Lima accounted for 32% of total population and 20% of total deaths. The Andean region, with 38% of Peru's population, accounted for half of all country deaths. Departmental mortality predominance shifted from communicable diseases in 1996 towards non-communicable diseases and injuries in 2000. Maternal and perinatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies and nutritional anaemia declined markedly in all departments and regions. Infectious diseases decreased in all regions except Lima. In all regions acute respiratory infections are a leading cause of death, but their proportion ranged from 9.3% in Lima and Callao to 15.3% in the Andean region. Tuberculosis and injuries ranked high in Lima and the Andean region. CONCLUSION: Peruvian mortality shows a double burden of communicable and non-communicable, with increasing importance of non-communicable diseases and injuries. This challenges national and sub-national health system performance and policy making.

National and sub-national under-five mortality profiles in Peru: a basis for informed policy decisions.

BACKGROUND: Information on profiles for under-five causes of death is important to guide choice of child-survival interventions. Global level data have been published, but information at country level is scarce. We aimed at defining national and departmental trends and profiles of under-five mortality in Peru from 1996 through 2000. METHODS: We used the Ministry of Health registered under-five mortality data. For correction of under-registration, a model life-table that fitted the age distribution of the population and of registered deaths was identified for each year. The mortality rates corresponding to these model life-tables were then assigned to each department in each particular year. Cumulative reduction in under-five mortality rate in the 1996-2000 period was estimated calculating the annual reduction slope for each department. Departmental level mortality profiles were constructed. Differences in mortality profiles and in mortality reduction between coastal, andean and jungle regions were also assessed. RESULTS: At country level, only 4 causes (pneumonia, diarrhoea, neonatal diseases and injuries) accounted for 68% of all deaths in 1996, and for 62% in 2000. There was 32.7% of under-five death reduction from 1996 to 2000. Diarrhoea and pneumonia deaths decreased by 84.5% and 41.8%, respectively, mainly in the andean region, whereas deaths due to neonatal causes and injuries decreased by 37.2% and 21.7%. For 1996-2000 period, the andean, coast and jungle regions accounted for 52.4%, 33.1% and 14.4% of deaths, respectively. These regions represent 41.0%, 46.4% and 12.6% of under-five population. Both diarrhoea and pneumonia constitute 30.6% of under-five deaths in the andean region. As a proportion, neonatal deaths remained stable in the country from 1996 to 2000, accounting for about 30% of under-five deaths, whereas injuries and "other" causes, including congenital anomalies, increased by about 5%. CONCLUSION: Under-five mortality declined substantially in all departments from 1996 to 2000, which is explained mostly by reduction in diarrhoea and pneumonia deaths, particularly in the andean region. There is the need to emphasize interventions to reduce neonatal deaths and emerging causes of death such as injuries and congenital anomalies.