Nationwide paediatric cohort study of a protective association between allergy and complicated appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: In a nationwide cohort the potentially protective association between allergy and complicated appendicitis was analysed, and the influence of seasonal antigens, antihistamine treatment, and timing of allergy onset assessed. METHODS: Some 1 112 571 children born between 2000 and 2010 were followed from birth until the end of 2014. A cross-sectional analysis of appendicitis cases, with comparison of allergic versus non-allergic children for absolute risk and odds of complicated appendicitis was first undertaken. This was followed by a longitudinal analysis of children with allergy and matched controls who had never had an allergy, for incidence rate and hazard of subsequent complicated or simple appendicitis. RESULTS: Of all children, 20.4 per cent developed allergy and 0.6 per cent had appendicitis during follow-up. Among children with appendicitis, complicated appendicitis was more common among non-allergic children (18.9 per cent, 948 of 5016) than allergic children (12.8 per cent, 173 of 1351) (P < 0.001), and allergic children had a lower adjusted odds of complicated appendicitis (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.80, 95 per cent c.i. 0.67 to 0.96; P = 0.021 ). The risk of complicated appendicitis among children with manifest allergy was reduced by one-third in the longitudinal analysis (incidence rate 0.13 versus 0.20 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio (HR) 0.68, 95 per cent c.i. 0.58 to 0.81; P < 0.001), whereas the risk of simple appendicitis remained unchanged (incidence rate 0.91 versus 0.91; HR 1.00, 0.94 to 1.07; P = 0.932 ). Seasonal antigen exposure was a protective factor (adjusted OR 0.82, 0.71 to 0.94; P = 0.004) and ongoing antihistamine medication a risk factor (adjusted OR 2.28, 1.21 to 4.28; P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Children with allergy have a lower risk of complicated appendicitis, but the same overall risk of simple appendicitis. Seasonal antigen exposure reduced, and antihistamine treatment increased, the risk of complicated disease.

Immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delivery of surgical services.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing pandemic is having a collateral health effect on delivery of surgical care to millions of patients. Very little is known about pandemic management and effects on other services, including delivery of surgery. METHODS: This was a scoping review of all available literature pertaining to COVID-19 and surgery, using electronic databases, society websites, webinars and preprint repositories. RESULTS: Several perioperative guidelines have been issued within a short time. Many suggestions are contradictory and based on anecdotal data at best. As regions with the highest volume of operations per capita are being hit, an unprecedented number of operations are being cancelled or deferred. No major stakeholder seems to have considered how a pandemic deprives patients with a surgical condition of resources, with patients disproportionally affected owing to the nature of treatment (use of anaesthesia, operating rooms, protective equipment, physical invasion and need for perioperative care). No recommendations exist regarding how to reopen surgical delivery. The postpandemic evaluation and future planning should involve surgical services as an essential part to maintain appropriate surgical care for the population during an outbreak. Surgical delivery, owing to its cross-cutting nature and synergistic effects on health systems at large, needs to be built into the WHO agenda for national health planning. CONCLUSION: Patients are being deprived of surgical access, with uncertain loss of function and risk of adverse prognosis as a collateral effect of the pandemic. Surgical services need a contingency plan for maintaining surgical care in an ongoing or postpandemic phase.

ANTECEDENTES: La pandemia en curso tiene un efecto colateral sobre la salud en la prestación de atención quirúrgica a millones de pacientes. Se sabe muy poco sobre el manejo de la pandemia y sus efectos colaterales en otros servicios, incluida la prestación de servicios quirúrgicos. MÉTODOS: Se ha realizado una revisión de alcance de toda la literatura disponible relacionada con COVID-19 y cirugía utilizando bases de datos electrónicas, páginas web de sociedades, seminarios online y repositorios de pre-publicaciones. RESULTADOS: Se han publicado varias guías perioperatorias en un corto período de tiempo. Muchas recomendaciones son contradictorias y, en el mejor de los casos, se basan en datos anecdóticos. A medida que las regiones con el mayor volumen de operaciones per cápita se ven afectadas, se cancela o difiere un número sin precedentes de operaciones. Ninguna de las principales partes interesadas parece haber considerado cómo una pandemia priva de recursos a los pacientes que necesitan una intervención quirúrgica, con pacientes afectados de manera desproporcionada debido a la naturaleza del tratamiento (uso de anestesia, quirófanos, equipo de protección, contacto físico y necesidad de atención perioperatoria). No existen recomendaciones sobre cómo reanudar la actividad quirúrgica. La evaluación tras la pandemia y la planificación futura deben incluir a los servicios quirúrgicos como una parte esencial para mantener la atención quirúrgica adecuada para la población también durante un brote epidémico. La prestación de servicios quirúrgicos, debido a su naturaleza transversal y a sus efectos sinérgicos en los sistemas de salud en general, debe incorporarse a la agenda de la OMS para la planificación nacional de la salud. CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes se ven privados de acceso a la cirugía con una pérdida de función incierta y riesgo de un pronóstico adverso como efecto colateral de la pandemia. Los servicios quirúrgicos necesitan un plan de contingencia para mantener la atención quirúrgica durante la pandemia y en la fase post-pandemia.

Nationwide study of appendicitis in children.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric surgical care is increasingly being centralized away from low-volume centres, and prehospital delay is considered a risk factor for more complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of paediatric appendicitis in Sweden, and to assess whether distance to the hospital was a risk factor for complicated disease. METHODS: A nationwide cohort study of all paediatric appendicitis cases in Sweden, 2001-2014, was undertaken, including incidence of disease in different population strata, with trends over time. The risk of complicated disease was determined by regression methods, with travel time as the primary exposure and individual-level socioeconomic determinants as independent variables. RESULTS: Some 38 939 children with appendicitis were identified. Of these, 16·8 per cent had complicated disease, and the estimated risk of paediatric appendicitis by age 18 years was 2·5 per cent. Travel time to the treating hospital was not associated with complicated disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·00 (95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·05) per 30-min increase; P = 0·934). Level of education (P = 0·177) and family income (P = 0·120) were not independently associated with increased risk of complicated disease. Parental unemployment (adjusted OR 1·17, 95 per cent c.i. 1·05 to 1·32; P = 0·006) and having parents born outside Sweden (1 parent born in Sweden: adjusted OR 1·12, 1·01 to 1·25; both parents born outside Sweden: adjusted OR 1·32, 1·18 to 1·47; P < 0·001) were associated with an increased risk of complicated appendicitis. CONCLUSION: Every sixth child diagnosed with appendicitis in Sweden has a more complicated course of disease. Geographical distance to the surgical facility was not a risk factor for complicated appendicitis.

ANTECEDENTES: La atención quirúrgica pediátrica está cada vez más centralizada lejos de los centros de bajo volumen, y el retraso pre-hospitalario se considera un factor de riesgo para las apendicitis más complicadas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la incidencia de apendicitis pediátrica en Suecia y evaluar si la distancia al hospital era un factor de riesgo para una enfermedad complicada. MÉTODOS: Se analizó un estudio de cohortes a nivel nacional que incluyó todos los casos de apendicitis pediátrica en Suecia durante el periodo 2001-2014, incluida la incidencia de la enfermedad en diferentes estratos de la población y las tendencias a lo largo del tiempo. El riesgo de enfermedad complicada se determinó mediante métodos de regresión, con el tiempo de viaje como exposición primaria y los determinantes socioeconómicos a nivel individual como variables independientes. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 38.939 casos de apendicitis pediátrica. De estos, el 17% eran complicados y el riesgo estimado de apendicitis pediátrica a los 18 años era del 2,5%. El tiempo de viaje al hospital de tratamiento no se asoció con una enfermedad complicada (razón de oportunidades, odds ratio OR ajustada 1,00 (i.c. del 95%: 0,96 a 1,05) por aumentos de 30 minutos, P = 0,93). El nivel de educación (P = 0,18) y los ingresos familiares (P = 0,120) no se asociaron de forma independiente con un aumento del riesgo de enfermedad complicada. El desempleo de los padres (OR ajustada 1,17 (1,05 a 1,32), P = 0,006) y tener padres nacidos fuera de Suecia se asociaron con un mayor riesgo de apendicitis complicada (P < 0,001; un progenitor nacido en Suecia: OR ajustada 1,12 (1,01 a 1,25), ambos progenitores nacidos fuera de Suecia: OR ajustada 1,32 (1,18 a 1,47)). CONCLUSIÓN: Uno de cada seis niños diagnosticados de apendicitis en Suecia sufre un curso de enfermedad más complicado. La distancia geográfica al hospital donde se llevó a cabo la cirugía no fue un factor de riesgo para la apendicitis complicada.

Caesarean section performed by medical doctors and associate clinicians in Sierra Leone.

BACKGROUND: Many countries lack sufficient medical doctors to provide safe and affordable surgical and emergency obstetric care. Task-sharing with associate clinicians (ACs) has been suggested to fill this gap. The aim of this study was to assess maternal and neonatal outcomes of caesarean sections performed by ACs and doctors. METHODS: All nine hospitals in Sierra Leone where both ACs and doctors performed caesarean sections were included in this prospective observational multicentre non-inferiority study. Patients undergoing caesarean section were followed for 30 days. The primary outcome was maternal mortality, and secondary outcomes were perinatal events and maternal morbidity. RESULTS: Between October 2016 and May 2017, 1282 patients were enrolled in the study. In total, 1161 patients (90·6 per cent) were followed up with a home visit at 30 days. Data for 1274 caesarean sections were analysed, 443 performed by ACs and 831 by doctors. Twin pregnancies were more frequently treated by ACs, whereas doctors performed a higher proportion of operations outside office hours. There was one maternal death in the AC group and 15 in the doctor group (crude odds ratio (OR) 0·12, 90 per cent confidence interval 0·01 to 0·67). There were fewer stillbirths in the AC group (OR 0·74, 0·56 to 0·98), but patients were readmitted twice as often (OR 2·17, 1·08 to 4·42). CONCLUSION: Caesarean sections performed by ACs are not inferior to those undertaken by doctors. Task-sharing can be a safe strategy to improve access to emergency surgical care in areas where there is a shortage of doctors.

Evaluating the collection, comparability and findings of six global surgery indicators.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, six indicators were proposed to evaluate global progress towards access to safe, affordable and timely surgical and anaesthesia care. Although some have been adopted as core global health indicators, none has been evaluated systematically. The aims of this study were to assess the availability, comparability and utility of the indicators, and to present available data and updated estimates. METHODS: Nationally representative data were compiled for all World Health Organization (WHO) member states from 2010 to 2016 through contacts with official bodies and review of the published and grey literature, and available databases. Availability, comparability and utility were assessed for each indicator: access to timely essential surgery, specialist surgical workforce density, surgical volume, perioperative mortality, and protection against impoverishing and catastrophic expenditure. Where feasible, imputation models were developed to generate global estimates. RESULTS: Of all WHO member states, 19 had data on the proportion of the population within 2h of a surgical facility, 154 had data on workforce density, 72 reported number of procedures, and nine had perioperative mortality data, but none could report data on catastrophic or impoverishing expenditure. Comparability and utility were variable, and largely dependent on different definitions used. There were sufficient data to estimate that worldwide, in 2015, there were 2 038 947 (i.q.r. 1 884 916-2 281 776) surgeons, obstetricians and anaesthetists, and 266·1 (95 per cent c.i. 220·1 to 344·4) million operations performed. CONCLUSION: Surgical and anaesthesia indicators are increasingly being adopted by the global health community, but data availability remains low. Comparability and utility for all indicators require further resolution.

Population-based incidence rate of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures in a high-income country.

BACKGROUND: The WHO and the World Bank ask countries to report the national volume of surgery. This report describes these data for Sweden, a high-income country. METHODS: In an 8-year population-based observational cohort study, all inpatient and outpatient care in the public and private sectors was detected in the Swedish National Patient Register and screened for the occurrence of surgery. The entire Swedish population was eligible for inclusion. All patients attending healthcare for any disease were included. Incidence rates of surgery and likelihood of surgery were calculated, with trends over time, and correlation with sex, age and disease category. RESULTS: Almost one in three hospitalizations involved a surgical procedure (30·6 per cent). The incidence rate of surgery exceeded 17 480 operations per 100 000 person-years, and at least 58·5 per cent of all surgery was performed in an outpatient setting (range 58·5 to 71·6 per cent). Incidence rates of surgery increased every year by 5·2 (95 per cent c.i. 4·2 to 6·1) per cent (P < 0·001), predominantly owing to more outpatient surgery. Women had a 9·8 (95 per cent c.i. 5·6 to 14·0) per cent higher adjusted incidence rate of surgery than men (P < 0·001), mainly explained by more surgery during their fertile years. Incidence rates peaked in the elderly for both women and men, and varied between disease categories. CONCLUSION: Population requirements for surgery are greater than previously reported, and more than half of all surgery is performed in outpatient settings. Distributions of age, sex and disease influence estimates of population surgical demand, and should be accounted for in future global and national projections of surgical public health needs.

Global health education in Swedish medical schools.

AIMS: Global health education is increasingly acknowledged as an opportunity for medical schools to prepare future practitioners for the broad health challenges of our time. The purpose of this study was to describe the evolution of global health education in Swedish medical schools and to assess students' perceived needs for such education. METHODS: Data on global health education were collected from all medical faculties in Sweden for the years 2000-2013. In addition, 76% (439/577) of all Swedish medical students in their final semester answered a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Global health education is offered at four of Sweden's seven medical schools, and most medical students have had no global health education. Medical students in their final semester consider themselves to lack knowledge and skills in areas such as the global burden of disease (51%), social determinants of health (52%), culture and health (60%), climate and health (62%), health promotion and disease prevention (66%), strategies for equal access to health care (69%) and global health care systems (72%). A significant association was found between self-assessed competence and the amount of global health education received (p<0.001). A majority of Swedish medical students (83%) wished to have more global health education added to the curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: Most Swedish medical students have had no global health education as part of their medical school curriculum. Expanded education in global health is sought after by medical students and could strengthen the professional development of future medical doctors in a wide range of topics important for practitioners in the global world of the twenty-first century.

Frequency of surgery and hospital admissions for communicable diseases in a high- and middle-income setting.

BACKGROUND: In high-income countries, non-communicable diseases drive the demand for surgical healthcare. Middle-income countries face a double disease burden, of both communicable and non-communicable disease. The aim of this study was to describe the role of surgery for the in-hospital care of infectious conditions in the high-income country Sweden and the middle-income country South Africa. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of 1.4 million infectious disease admissions. The study populations were the entire population of Sweden, and a cohort of 3.5 million South Africans with private healthcare insurance, during a 7-year interval. The outcome measures were frequency of surgical procedures across a spectrum of diseases, and sex and age during the medical care event. RESULTS: Some 8.1 per cent of Swedish and 15.7 per cent of South African hospital admissions were because of infectious disease. The proportion of infectious disease admissions that were associated with surgery was constant over time: 8.0 (95 per cent c.i. 7.9 to 8.1) per cent in Sweden and 21.1 (21.0 to 21.2) per cent in South Africa. The frequency of surgery was 2.6 (2.6 to 2.7) times greater in South Africa, and 2.2 (2.2 to 2.3) times higher after standardization for age, sex and disease category. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that surgical care is required to manage patients with communicable diseases, even in high-income settings with efficient prevention and functional primary care. These results further stress the importance of scaling up functional surgical health systems in low- and middle-income countries, where the disease burden is distinguished by infectious disease.

Major neonatal surgery under local anesthesia: a cohort study from Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons and anesthetists must respond to the perioperative mortality associated with general anesthesia in developing countries. The safety of performing major neonatal surgery under local anesthesia is one pragmatic response. This study describes and evaluates such practice in a tertiary pediatric surgery center in Bangladesh. METHODS: Seven hundred and twenty neonates were admitted for major surgery during a 3.5-year study period. Hundred and fifty two neonates died pre-operatively, and 568 underwent major neonatal surgery. 352 (62.0%) neonates were operated under general anesthesia, while the 216 most fragile neonates (38.0%) were operated with local infiltrative anesthesia alone. Medical files were reviewed; data were collected prospectively; mortality risk factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixteen procedures were performed under local anesthesia: sigmoid colostomies (37.5%), laparotomies with anastomosis (21.3%), anoplasties (18.1%), laparotomies with enterostomy (8.3%), closures of abdominal wall defects (6.9%), fixations of silastic bags (3.7%), peritoneal tube drainage (2.3%), and gastrostomies (1.9%). Median weight was 2,400 g (2,200-2,460), median gestational age was 37.0 weeks (36.0-38.0), and median age at surgery was 5.0 days (3.0-14.7). In-hospital postoperative mortality was 10.6% among those selected for local anesthesia, and 11.4% among neonates operated under general anesthesia. Low birth weight was an independent risk factor for mortality on multivariate analysis (OR 1.002 g(-1), 95% CI [1.000-1.004], p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Local anesthesia is an established option for the most fragile neonates with major surgical disease. Safe anesthesia ought to be accessible to all children of the world. The global pandemic of perioperative mortality needs to be addressed.

The global met need for emergency obstetric care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Of the 287,000 maternal deaths every year, 99% happen in low- and middle-income countries. The vast majority could be averted with timely access to appropriate emergency obstetric care (EmOC). The proportion of women with complications of pregnancy or childbirth who actually receive treatment is reported as 'Met need for EmOC'. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the global met need for EmOC and to examine the correlation between met need, maternal mortality ratio and other indicators. SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were made in PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies containing data on met need in EmOC were selected. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Analysis was performed with data extracted from 62 studies representing 51 countries. World Bank data were used for univariate and multiple linear regression. MAIN RESULTS: Global met need for EmOC was 45% (IQR: 28-57%), with significant disparity between low- (21% [12-31%]), middle- (32% [15-56%]), and high-income countries (99% [99-99%]), (P = 0.041). This corresponds to 11.4 million (8.8-14.8) untreated complications yearly and 951 million (645-1174 million) women without access to EmOC. We found an inverse correlation between met need and maternal mortality ratio (r = -0.42, P < 0.001). Met need was significantly correlated with the proportion of births attended by skilled birth attendants (ß = 0.53 [95% CI 0.41-0.65], P < 0.001). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a considerable inadequacy in global met need for EmOC, with vast disparities between countries of different income levels. Met need is a powerful indicator of the response to maternal mortality and strategies to improve EmOC act in synergy with the expansion of skilled birth attendance.

Quantitative sensory testing: effect of site and pressure on vibration thresholds.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of different sites and locally applied pressure on vibration thresholds. METHODS: Vibration thresholds were compared in 47 normal volunteers at 3 sites of the index finger (pulp, dorsum of the middle phalanx and nail) and at two sites of the great toe (dorsum of the proximal phalanx and nail). The effect of local pressure (30, 50 and 100 g/1.22 cm(2)) were compared in 41 subjects at the dorsum of the middle phalanx of the index finger and the proximal phalanx of the great toe. RESULTS: The hand was more sensitive than the foot for vibration. There were no significant differences in vibration thresholds at different sites of the index finger and different sites of the great toe. The pulp of the index finger yielded the least inter-individual variation. Testing under 30 and 50 g/1.22 cm(2) of pressure yielded equal vibration thresholds. Vibration threshold was higher when tested under 100 g/1.22 cm(2) at the index finger but not the great toe. This difference was small and clinically negligible. CONCLUSION: Testing of vibration thresholds in normal subjects can be adequately conducted at several sites of the index finger and the great toe. The test can be adequately done under low pressure of 30-50 g/1.22 cm(2).

Quantitative sensory testing: effect of site and skin temperature on thermal thresholds.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of different sites and local skin temperature on thermal thresholds. METHODS: Cool and warm detection and cold and heat pain thresholds were compared in 46 normal volunteers at the thenar eminence (TE), dorsum of the hand (DH), volar surface of the wrist (VW) and dorsum of the foot (DF). RESULTS: The hand is more sensitive than the foot for cool and warm. TE is more sensitive for warm than DH and VW but the difference is clinically negligible. DH and VW are equally sensitive to warm. TE, DH, and VW are equally sensitive to cool. Inter-individual variance is smallest at TE. Warm and cool thresholds are independent of local skin temperature (range of 27-37 degrees C). TE is less sensitive for cold pain but otherwise the hand and the foot are equally sensitive to thermal pain. CONCLUSION: Testing of thermal thresholds in normal subjects can be adequately conducted at several sites at the hand, however, TE is preferred given the small inter-individual variability. TE may be preferred for evaluating hyperalgesia to cold given its higher threshold. Warming or cooling of the skin is unnecessary within the range normally encountered in routine clinical evaluation.