“…The reviewed publications were published between 1958 [ 17 ] and 2020 [ 20 ]. A total of nine countries published data on surgical epidemiology: eight in Japan [ 18 , 21 , 22 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 35 , 43 ], seven in India [ 10 , 11 , 15 , 19 , 30 , 33 , 42 ], six in Australia [ 12 , 13 , 16 , 36 , 38 , 40 ], five in the United Kingdom [ 14 , 24 , 27 , 39 , 41 ], four in the United States [ 17 , 23 , 32 , 34 ], two in Russia [ 25 , 37 ], one in Ukraine [ 28 ], one in the Czech Republic [ 20 ], and one in France [ 6 ]. These publications related to 33 Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations belonging to 12 different countries ( Figure 2 ).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The publications covered periods stretching from 1901 to 2018 ( Figure 3 ), although no data were reported between 1917 and 1946. The time interval studied varied in the publications from a few months [ 10 , 11 , 17 , 19 , 23 , 25 , 30 , 32 , 39 , 42 ] to about 60 years [ 22 , 31 ]. Figure 3.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A total of 41 surgical procedures or reasons for surgical consultation were identified ( Table 2 ). The category “surgery” was cited in four publications [ 21 , 22 , 33 , 43 ] and “surgery and trauma” in 10 publications [ 12 , 13 , 18 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 34 , 35 ], although it was not possible to precisely define the relevant surgical specialities. The prevalence of the “surgery” category varied from 13% to 20% across all consultations [ 21 , 22 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Among the 25 papers dealing with orthopaedic surgery, 15 types of surgical interventions or reasons for surgical consultation were identified, excluding the “unknown” category. The three most cited categories were frostbite [ 12 , 18 , 19 , 25 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 35 ], fractures [ 12–14 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 27 , 34 , 35 ], and wounds [ 10 , 12 , 15 , 27 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 35 , 41 ]. The type of anaesthesia was not systematically described, although some procedures were performed under general anaesthesia such as the partial amputation of a big toe, the reduction of femoral fracture [ 19 ], several other toe amputations, and “foot repair with joint damage” [ 41 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The three most cited categories were the management of decayed or abscessed teeth [ 11 , 14–16 , 27 , 31 , 35 ], post-traumatic dental restorations [ 16 , 17 , 20 , 31 , 35 ], and dental extractions [ 16 , 17 , 27 , 41 ]. More than half of the publications reported the prevalence of dental surgery to range from 0.1% to 51.5% of consultations [ 12 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28–33 , 35 , 43 ]. The use of general anaesthesia was described for dental extractions [ 41 ].…”
In Antarctica, it is extremely difficult to organise medical evacuations in winter. Antarctic physicians are often alone and must be prepared to perform surgery and dentistry, even if they are not specialists. This scoping review summarises epidemiological data on the types of surgical procedures performed in Antarctica and identifies gaps in the literature in this area. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar, without language restriction, for papers published between 1 January 1904, and 1 February 2022. Of the 35 papers on 12 Antarctic programs, very few were retrospective observational epidemiological studies; the majority were medical reports. The search identified 41 surgical procedures or reasons for surgical consultation, 19 different reasons for medical evacuations, and 12 causes of death that may have required surgical management. The diagnostic classifications used and the prevalence of each reported surgical speciality were heterogeneous. The most cited specialities were orthopaedics, dentistry, and digestive surgery. Telemedicine was integrated into on-site care or medical evacuation decisions. The current literature is poor, and most studies do not apply to surgical issues. The heterogeneous data collection methodologies limit their interpretation. A standardised diagnostic classification and detailed and systematic epidemiological registers will help define the contours of surgical management in Antarctica.
“…The reviewed publications were published between 1958 [ 17 ] and 2020 [ 20 ]. A total of nine countries published data on surgical epidemiology: eight in Japan [ 18 , 21 , 22 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 35 , 43 ], seven in India [ 10 , 11 , 15 , 19 , 30 , 33 , 42 ], six in Australia [ 12 , 13 , 16 , 36 , 38 , 40 ], five in the United Kingdom [ 14 , 24 , 27 , 39 , 41 ], four in the United States [ 17 , 23 , 32 , 34 ], two in Russia [ 25 , 37 ], one in Ukraine [ 28 ], one in the Czech Republic [ 20 ], and one in France [ 6 ]. These publications related to 33 Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations belonging to 12 different countries ( Figure 2 ).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The publications covered periods stretching from 1901 to 2018 ( Figure 3 ), although no data were reported between 1917 and 1946. The time interval studied varied in the publications from a few months [ 10 , 11 , 17 , 19 , 23 , 25 , 30 , 32 , 39 , 42 ] to about 60 years [ 22 , 31 ]. Figure 3.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A total of 41 surgical procedures or reasons for surgical consultation were identified ( Table 2 ). The category “surgery” was cited in four publications [ 21 , 22 , 33 , 43 ] and “surgery and trauma” in 10 publications [ 12 , 13 , 18 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 34 , 35 ], although it was not possible to precisely define the relevant surgical specialities. The prevalence of the “surgery” category varied from 13% to 20% across all consultations [ 21 , 22 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Among the 25 papers dealing with orthopaedic surgery, 15 types of surgical interventions or reasons for surgical consultation were identified, excluding the “unknown” category. The three most cited categories were frostbite [ 12 , 18 , 19 , 25 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 35 ], fractures [ 12–14 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 27 , 34 , 35 ], and wounds [ 10 , 12 , 15 , 27 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 35 , 41 ]. The type of anaesthesia was not systematically described, although some procedures were performed under general anaesthesia such as the partial amputation of a big toe, the reduction of femoral fracture [ 19 ], several other toe amputations, and “foot repair with joint damage” [ 41 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The three most cited categories were the management of decayed or abscessed teeth [ 11 , 14–16 , 27 , 31 , 35 ], post-traumatic dental restorations [ 16 , 17 , 20 , 31 , 35 ], and dental extractions [ 16 , 17 , 27 , 41 ]. More than half of the publications reported the prevalence of dental surgery to range from 0.1% to 51.5% of consultations [ 12 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28–33 , 35 , 43 ]. The use of general anaesthesia was described for dental extractions [ 41 ].…”
In Antarctica, it is extremely difficult to organise medical evacuations in winter. Antarctic physicians are often alone and must be prepared to perform surgery and dentistry, even if they are not specialists. This scoping review summarises epidemiological data on the types of surgical procedures performed in Antarctica and identifies gaps in the literature in this area. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar, without language restriction, for papers published between 1 January 1904, and 1 February 2022. Of the 35 papers on 12 Antarctic programs, very few were retrospective observational epidemiological studies; the majority were medical reports. The search identified 41 surgical procedures or reasons for surgical consultation, 19 different reasons for medical evacuations, and 12 causes of death that may have required surgical management. The diagnostic classifications used and the prevalence of each reported surgical speciality were heterogeneous. The most cited specialities were orthopaedics, dentistry, and digestive surgery. Telemedicine was integrated into on-site care or medical evacuation decisions. The current literature is poor, and most studies do not apply to surgical issues. The heterogeneous data collection methodologies limit their interpretation. A standardised diagnostic classification and detailed and systematic epidemiological registers will help define the contours of surgical management in Antarctica.
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