Priorities for peri‐operative research in Africa

Abstract

SummaryDeaths following surgery are the third largest contributor to deaths globally, and in Africa are twice the global average. There is a need for a peri‐operative research agenda to ensure co‐ordinated, collaborative research efforts across Africa in order to decrease peri‐operative mortality. The objective was to determine the top 10 research priorities for peri‐operative research in Africa. A Delphi technique was used to establish consensus on the top research priorities. The top 10 research priorities identified were (1) Develop training standards for peri‐operative healthcare providers (surgical, anaesthesia and nursing) in Africa; (2) Develop minimum provision of care standards for peri‐operative healthcare providers (surgical, anaesthesia and nursing) in Africa; (3) Early identification and management of mothers at risk from peripartum haemorrhage in the peri‐operative period; (4) The role of communication and teamwork between surgical, anaesthetic, nursing and other teams involved in peri‐operative care; (5) A facility audit/African World Health Organization situational analysis tool audit to assess emergency and essential surgical care, which includes anaesthetic equipment available and level of training and knowledge of peri‐operative healthcare providers (surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses); (6) Establishing evidence‐based practice guidelines for peri‐operative physicians in Africa; (7) Economic analysis of strategies to finance access to surgery in Africa; (8) Establishment of a minimum dataset surgical registry; (9) A quality improvement programme to improve implementation of the surgical safety checklist; and (10) Peri‐operative outcomes associated with emergency surgery. These peri‐operative research priorities provide the structure for an intermediate‐term research agenda to improve peri‐operative outcomes across Africa.

Predictors of Poor Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Surgery Patients in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Despite overall gains in global health, the burden of surgical diseases and complications in low-and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) remains high. In 2018, one in five surgical patients in LMICs had poor postoperative outcomes, such as surgical site infection (SSI), wound complication, or death [1]. An estimated 5 billion people do not have timely access to safe, affordable surgery [2].…”

Predictors of Poor Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Surgery Patients in Rural Ghana

“…Despite overall gains in global health, the burden of surgical diseases and complications in low-and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) remains high. In 2018, one in ve surgical patients in LMICs had poor postoperative outcomes, such as surgical site infection (SSI), wound complication, or death [1]. An estimated 5 billion people do not have timely access to safe, affordable surgery [2].…”

Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis of African Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine Research Part I: Hierarchy of Evidence and Scholarly Productivity

“…First, research can help identify the barriers of universal ACCM access in Africa. [4] Research has been used, for example, to map the workforce de cit and to identify obstacles to the development of ACCM services in Africa. [5,6] Also, research can help design, monitor, and evaluate context-speci c solutions to previously identi ed problems.…”

“…[5,6] Also, research can help design, monitor, and evaluate context-speci c solutions to previously identi ed problems. [4] This has been the case with the World Health Organization surgical safety checklist, the LifeBox pulse oximeter, and the provision of oxygen in low-resource settings. [3,7,8] Research can equally improve the career trajectory of individuals and the academic standing of institutions.…”

“…The African Perioperative Research Collaborative is an excellent example of the potential of inter-African ACCM research collaboratives. The African Perioperative Research Collaborative is a group led by members of the South African Perioperative Research Collaborative that has facilitated ACCM clinical research among African researchers via technical support, mentorship, and capacity building [4,15].…”