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Thomas HS, Emmanuel A, Kayima P, Ajiko MM, Grabski DF, Situma M, Kakembo N, Ozgediz DE, Sabatini CS. Understanding the Burden of Pediatric Traumatic Injury in Uganda: A Multicenter, Prospective Study. J Surg Res 2024; 300:467-476. [PMID: 38870654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traumatic injury is responsible for eight million childhood deaths annually. In Uganda, there is a paucity of comprehensive data describing the burden of pediatric trauma, which is essential for resource allocation and surgical workforce planning. This study aimed to ascertain the burden of non-adolescent pediatric trauma across four Ugandan hospitals. METHODS We performed a descriptive review of four independent and prospective pediatric surgical databases in Uganda: Mulago National Referral Hospital (2012-2019), Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (2015-2019), Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH) (2016-2019), and St Mary's Hospital Lacor (SMHL) (2016-2019). We sub-selected all clinical encounters that involved trauma. The primary outcome was the distribution of injury mechanisms. Secondary outcomes included operative intervention and clinical outcomes. RESULTS There was a total of 693 pediatric trauma patients, across four hospital sites: Mulago National Referral Hospital (n = 245), Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (n = 29), SRRH (n = 292), and SMHL (n = 127). The majority of patients were male (63%), with a median age of 5 [interquartile range = 2, 8]. Chiefly, patients suffered blunt injury mechanisms, including falls (16.2%) and road traffic crashes (14.7%) resulting in abdominal trauma (29.4%) and contusions (11.8%). At SRRH and SMHL, from which orthopedic data were available, 27% of patients suffered long-bone fractures. Overall, 55% of patients underwent surgery and 95% recovered to discharge. CONCLUSIONS In Uganda, non-adolescent pediatric trauma patients most commonly suffer injuries due to falls and road traffic crashes, resulting in high rates of abdominal trauma. Amid surgical workforce deficits and resource-variability, these data support interventions aimed at training adult general surgeons to provide emergency pediatric surgical care and procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Thomas
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California; Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Peter Kayima
- Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Soroti, Uganda
| | | | - David F Grabski
- University of Virginia Department of Surgery, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | | | - Doruk E Ozgediz
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; UCSF Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia (CHESA), San Francisco, California
| | - Coleen S Sabatini
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco/UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California; UCSF Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia (CHESA), San Francisco, California.
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Kazen K, Roche K, Ward L, Feltis B, Ibrahim SA. Pediatric stoma in Zambia: Current ethical challenges and advancement of public policy. World J Surg 2024. [PMID: 38890787 DOI: 10.1002/wjs.12251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pediatric ostomy creation is becoming increasingly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The procedure is associated with both physical and ethical challenges for patients, their families, and medical providers. ETHICAL DISCUSSION Counseling parents of children in need of ostomy creation must address each of their trepidations while seeking to promote the ethical tenets of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, quality of life, and justice. CONCLUSION As pediatric surgical care in SSA continues to progress, efforts to ameliorate challenges to providing holistic patient-centric care must also progress. This manuscript outlines ethical dilemmas associated with pediatric ostomy care in SSA and lists efforts and initiatives seeking to address them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keelin Roche
- East Tennessee State University, Johnson, Tennessee, USA
| | - Luther Ward
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brad Feltis
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson, Tennessee, USA
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Klazura G, Kayima P, Situma M, Musinguzi E, Mugarura R, Nyonyintono J, Yap A, Cope J, Akello R, Kiwanuka E, Odonkara M, Okellowange C, Adongpiny J, Lakwanyero D, Atim P, Cadrine AP, Olara J, Boppana A, Laverde R, d'Agostino S, Cigliano B, Ozgediz D, Sims T, Kisa P. Pediatric Surgery Collaboration in Uganda, the Benefits of Long Term Partnerships at Regional Referral Hospitals. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4332253. [PMID: 38766237 PMCID: PMC11100894 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4332253/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Background In 2022 there were only seven pediatric surgeons in Uganda, but approximately 170 are needed. Consequently, Ugandan general surgeons treat most pediatric surgical problems at regional hospitals. Accordingly, stakeholders created the Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course, which teaches rural providers identification, resuscitation, treatment and referral of pediatric surgical conditions. In order to improve course offerings and better understand pediatric surgery needs we collected admission and operative logbook data from four participating sites. One participating site, Lacor Hospital, rarely referred patients and had a much higher operative volume. Therefore, we sought to understand the causes of this difference and the resulting economic impact. Methods Over a four-year period, data was collected from logbooks at four different regional referral hospitals in Uganda. Patients ≤ 18 years old with a surgical diagnosis were included. Patient LOS, referral volume, age, and case type were compared between sites and DALYs were calculated and converted into monetary benefit. Results Over four sites, 8,615 admissions, and 5,457 cases were included. Lacor patients were younger, had a longer length of stay, and were referred less. Additionally, Lacor's long-term partnerships with a high-income country institution, a missionary organization, and visiting Ugandan and international pediatric surgeons were unique. In 2018, the pediatric surgery case volume was: Lacor (967); Fort Portal (477); Kiwoko (393); and Kabale (153), resulting in a substantial difference in long-term monetary health benefit. Conclusion Long-term international partnerships may advance investments in surgical infrastructure, workforce, and education in low- and middle-income countries. This collaborative model allows stakeholders to make a greater impact than any single institution could make alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Klazura
- University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ava Yap
- Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of California
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amulya Boppana
- University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
| | - Ruth Laverde
- Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of California
| | | | | | - Doruk Ozgediz
- Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of California
| | - Thomas Sims
- University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
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Klazura G, Stephens C, Musinguzi E, Mugarura R, Nyonyintono J, Laverde R, Nimanya S, Situma M, Bua E, Yap A, Sims T, Ozgediz D, Kisa P. Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course in Uganda: Long-Term Follow-Up and Insights From Further Dissemination. J Surg Res 2024; 295:837-845. [PMID: 38194867 PMCID: PMC10922965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 170 pediatric surgeons are needed for the 24 million children in Uganda. There are only seven. Consequently, general surgeons manage many pediatric surgical conditions. In response, stakeholders created the Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course (PESC) for rural providers, given three times in 2018-2019. We sought to understand the course's long-term impact, current pediatric surgery needs, and determine measures for improvement. METHODS In October 2021, we distributed the same test given in 2018-2019. Student's t-test was used to compare former participants' scores to previous scores. The course was delivered again in May 2022 to new participants. We performed a quantitative needs assessment and also conducted a focus group with these participants. Finally, we interviewed Surgeon in Chiefs at previous sites. RESULTS Twenty three of the prior 45 course participants re-took the PESC course assessment. Alumni scored on average 71.9% ± 18% correct. This was higher from prior precourse test scores of 55.4% ± 22.4%, and almost identical to the 2018-2019 postcourse scores 71.9% ± 14%. Fifteen course participants completed the needs assessment. Participants had low confidence managing pediatric surgical disease (median Likert scale ≤ 3.0), 12 of 15 participants endorsed lack of equipment, and eight of 15 desired more educational resources. Qualitative feedback was positive: participants valued the pragmatic lessons and networking with in-country specialists. Further training was suggested, and Chiefs noted the need for more trained staff like anesthesiologists. CONCLUSIONS Participants favorably reviewed PESC and retained knowledge over three years later. Given participants' interest in more training, further investment in locally derived educational efforts must be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Klazura
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Medical Center.
| | - Caroline Stephens
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia
| | | | | | | | - Ruth Laverde
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia
| | | | | | | | - Ava Yap
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia
| | - Thomas Sims
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - Doruk Ozgediz
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia
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Klazura G, Situma M, Musinguzi E, Mugarura R, Nyonyintono J, Yap A, Stephens CQ, Ullrich S, Kakembo N, Sekabira J, Ssemeju A, Bwesigye M, Muzaki D, Sims T, Proscovia N, Mbambu J, Kwikiriza D, Arinda F, Ozgediz D, Kisa P. The Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course: Impact on Provider Practice in Rural Uganda. J Pediatr Surg 2024; 59:146-150. [PMID: 37914591 PMCID: PMC10842949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course (PESC) trains rural Ugandan providers to recognize and manage critical pediatric surgical conditions. 45 providers took PESC between 2018 and 2019. We sought to assess the impact of the course at three regional hospitals: Fort Portal, Kabale, and Kiwoko. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Diagnosis, procedure, and patient outcome data were collected twelve months before and after PESC from admission and theater logbooks. We also assessed referrals from these institutions to Uganda's two pediatric surgery hubs: Mulago and Mbarara Hospitals. Wilcoxon rank-sum and Pearson's chi-squared tests compared pre- and post-PESC measures. Interrupted time-series-analysis assessed referral volume before and after PESC. RESULTS 1534 admissions and 2148 cases were documented across the three regional hospitals. Kiwoko made 539 referrals, while pediatric surgery hubs received 116 referrals. There was a statistically significant immediate increase in the number of referrals from Fort Portal, from 0.5 patients/month pre-PESC to 0.8 post-PESC (95 % CI 0.03-1.51). Moving averages of the combined number of pyloromyotomy, intussusception reductions, and hernia repairs at the rural hospitals also increased post-course. Neonatal time to referral and referred patient age were significantly lower after PESC delivery. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that PESC increased referrals to tertiary centers and operative volume of selected cases at rural hospitals and shortened time to presentation at sites receiving referrals. PESC is a locally-driven, validated, clinical education intervention that improves timely care of pediatric surgical emergencies and merits further support and dissemination. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective Cohort Study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Klazura
- University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, United States.
| | | | | | | | | | - Ava Yap
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia, United States
| | - Caroline Q Stephens
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Sims
- University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Surgery, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Doruk Ozgediz
- University of California San Francisco, Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia, United States
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Rapolti D, Kisa P, Situma M, Nico E, Lobe T, Sims T, Ozgediz D, Klazura G. The Creation of a Pediatric Surgical Checklist for Adult Providers. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3269257. [PMID: 37790469 PMCID: PMC10543282 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3269257/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To address the need for a pediatric surgical checklist for adult providers. Background Pediatric surgery is unique due to the specific needs and many tasks that are employed in the care of adults require accommodations for children. There are some resources for adult surgeons to perform safe pediatric surgery and to assist such surgeons in pediatric emergencies, we created a straightforward checklist based on current literature. We propose a surgical checklist as the value of surgical checklists has been validated through research in a variety of applications. Methods Literature review on PubMed to gather information on current resources for pediatric surgery, all papers on surgical checklists describing their outcomes as of October 2022 were included to prevent a biased overview of the existing literature. Interviews with multiple pediatric surgeons were conducted for the creation of a checklist that is relevant to the field and has limited bias. Results 42 papers with 8529061 total participants were included. The positive impact of checklists was highlighted throughout the literature in terms of outcomes, financial cost and team relationship. Certain care checkpoints emerged as vital checklist items: antibiotic administration, anesthetic considerations, intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative resuscitation. The result was the creation of a checklist that is not substitutive for existing WHO surgery checklists but additive for adult surgeons who must operate on children in emergencies. Conclusion The outcomes measured throughout the literature are varied and thus provide both a nuanced view of a variety of factors that must be taken into account and are limited in the amount of evidence for each outcome. We hope to implement the checklist developed to create a standard of care for pediatric surgery performed in low resource settings by adult surgeons and further evaluate its impact on emergency pediatric surgery outcomes. Funding Fulbright Fogarty Fellowship, GHES NIH FIC D43 TW010540.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rapolti
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
| | | | | | - Elsa Nico
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
| | - Thom Lobe
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
| | - Thomas Sims
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
| | | | - Greg Klazura
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
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Kakembo N, Grabski DF, Situma M, Ajiko M, Kayima P, Nyeko D, Shikanda A, Okello I, Tumukunde J, Nabukenya M, Ogwang M, Kisa P, Muzira A, Ruzgar N, Fitzgerald TN, Sekabira J, Ozgediz D. Met and Unmet Need for Pediatric Surgical Access in Uganda: A Country-Wide Prospective Analysis. J Surg Res 2023; 286:23-34. [PMID: 36738566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Children's surgical access in low and low-middle income countries is severely limited. Investigations detailing met and unmet surgical access are necessary to inform appropriate resource allocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Surgical volume, outcomes, and distribution of pediatric general surgical procedures were analyzed using prospective pediatric surgical databases from four separate regional hospitals in Uganda. The current averted burden of surgical disease through pediatric surgical delivery in Uganda and the unmet surgical need based on estimates from high-income country data was calculated. RESULTS A total of 8514 patients were treated at the four hospitals over a 6-year period corresponding to 1350 pediatric surgical cases per year in Uganda or six surgical cases per 100,000 children per year. The majority of complex congenital anomalies and surgical oncology cases were performed at Mulago and Mbarara Hospitals, which have dedicated pediatric surgical teams (P < 0.0001). The averted burden of pediatric surgical disease was 27,000 disability adjusted life years per year, which resulted in an economic benefit of approximately 23 million USD per year. However, the average case volume performed at the four regional hospitals currently represents 1% of the total projected pediatric surgical need. CONCLUSIONS This investigation is one of the first to demonstrate the distribution of pediatric surgical procedures at a country level through the use of a prospective locally created database. Significant disease burden was averted by local pediatric and adult surgical teams, demonstrating the economic benefit of pediatric surgical care delivery. These findings support several ongoing strategies to increase pediatric surgical access in Uganda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser Kakembo
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David F Grabski
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia.
| | - Martin Situma
- Department of Surgery, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Margaret Ajiko
- Department of Surgery, Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Soroti, Uganda
| | - Peter Kayima
- Department of Surgery, St. Mary's Lacor Regional Referral Hospital, Lacor, Uganda
| | - David Nyeko
- Department of Surgery, St. Mary's Lacor Regional Referral Hospital, Lacor, Uganda
| | - Anne Shikanda
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Innocent Okello
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Janat Tumukunde
- Department of Anesthesiology, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mary Nabukenya
- Department of Anesthesiology, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Martin Ogwang
- Department of Surgery, St. Mary's Lacor Regional Referral Hospital, Lacor, Uganda
| | - Phyllis Kisa
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Arlene Muzira
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Nensi Ruzgar
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - John Sekabira
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Doruk Ozgediz
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Abstract
Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is one of the most common causes of pediatric bowel obstruction in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper describes the unique aspects of presentation, diagnosis, management and post-operative care and outcomes of HD in LMICs. In LMICs, patients with HD are much more likely to present in a delayed fashion with subsequent increased morbidity and mortality including higher rates of chronic obstruction, malnutrition with failure to thrive, complete obstruction and perforation. There are multifactorial causes for delay, with opportunities to improve initial timely diagnosis and referral, support families to address socioeconomic and cultural barriers, and improve workforce and infrastructure resources to provide definitive care. In LMICs, the diagnosis is often made based on clinical presentation and radiographic findings as pathological services may be limited. Initial diversion with multi-stage procedure, instead of a single-stage pull-through, predominates. This is also a result of multifactorial causes, including initial presentation to general surgeons at first-level hospitals instead of pediatric surgeons, delayed presentation with sick, malnourished children with significantly distended bowel, and a lack of fresh-frozen pathological services to guide the extent of resection. Post-operatively, HD patients in LMICs experience higher complication and mortality rates - likely stemming from sicker baseline presentations and more limited resources. Significant recent advances in care have occurred for patients with HD in LMICs, while opportunities to continue to improve care remain.
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