Surgical Trip Research Articles

Bidirectional needs assessment of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery short-term surgical trips in Zimbabwe.

To describe findings from an otolaryngology-specific needs assessment tool in Zimbabwe. Surveys were developed and shared with Low-Middle Income Country (LMIC) hosting institutions in Zimbabwe and to High-Income Country surgical trip participants (HIC). Respondents were otolaryngologists identified online and through professional networks who had participated in a surgical trip. The most common procedures Zimbabwe otolaryngologists reported treating were adenotonsillectomy (85.7%), chronic rhinosinusitis (71.4%), chronic otitis (57.1%), and head and neck tumor intervention (57.1%). The most common untreatable conditions that host physicians wanted to treat were skull base surgery (71.4%), flap reconstructions (57.1%), and laryngotracheal reconstruction (57.1%). The largest discrepancy between host desires and visiting team offerings were flap reconstruction (57.1%), nasal bone deformities (37.1%), and laryngotracheal reconstruction (17.1%). Perceptions of short-term surgical trips (STST) were recorded for host and visiting teams, and important differences between the public and private sectors of care in Zimbabwe were also identified. The surveys utilized in this study served as a bidirectional needs assessment of the requirements and care goals of host institutions and visiting teams in Zimbabwe. Differences between public and private sectors of care, particularly regarding infrastructure, resources, and surgical goals, were revealed, and the results can be utilized as part of efforts to maximize efforts within global surgical partnerships. VI.

The Impact of Participating in Surgical Trips to Low Income, Low Resource Countries on Professional Development of Plastic Surgery Trainees

Title: The impact of participating in surgical trips to low income, low resource countries on professional development of plastic surgery trainees. Objective: Global health initiatives have increased in popularity in recent years, yet international surgical volunteerism remains controversial. Though many U.S. residencies incorporate global health initiatives, there is no standardization of the role that surgical volunteerism plays in resident education. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of surgical volunteerism on former plastic surgery trainees during and after residency. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to 35 graduates of the plastic surgery residency program at the University of Minnesota between 1991 and 2019. The survey included 28 yes/no questions and free responses. The response rate was 100% (n = 35). Results: 34 of 35 former graduates (97.1%) participated in at least one international surgical trip during residency. All participants had exposure to cleft surgery, and 82.4% reported a predominance of cleft cases. 23.5% of graduates have continued to perform cleft surgery as part of their practice, and 47.1% have continued to embark on surgical trips post-residency. Participants reported that volunteering on international surgical trips have made them more adaptable in the operating room (91.2%), gave them a better understanding of the challenges of poverty (97.1%), and helped them to provide better care for marginalized patients in low resource settings (70.6%). One hundred percent of participants reported that international surgical trips were an important part of their residency training (n = 34). Conclusions: International surgical volunteer work can provide an invaluable experience during training, and they should be offered by plastic surgery residency programs. Supporting resident involvement in surgical trips can have long term ramifications in their careers and commitment to helping the underserved.

Bidirectional needs assessment of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery short-term surgical trips to Ethiopia and Kenya.

To create an otolaryngology-specific needs assessment tool for short-term global surgical trips and to describe our findings from its implementation. Surveys 1 and 2 were developed based on a literature review and disseminated to Low-Middle Income (LMIC) hosting institutions in Kenya and Ethiopia and to High-Income surgical trip participants (HIC), respectively. Respondents were otolaryngologists identified online, through professional organizations, and by word-of-mouth, who had participated in a surgical trip of <4 weeks. HIC and LMIC respondents shared similar goals of expanding host surgical skills through education and training while building sustainable partnerships. Discrepancies were identified between LMIC desired surgical skills and supply needs and HIC current practices. Microvascular reconstruction (17.6%), advanced otologic surgery (17.6%), and FESS (14.7%) were most desired skills and high-demand equipment needs were FESS sets (89%), endoscopes (78%), and surgical drills (56%). Frequently taught techniques included advanced otologic surgery (36.6%), congenital anomaly surgery (14.6%), and FESS (14.6%) with the largest gap between LMIC-need and HIC-offerings being in microvascular reconstruction (17.6% vs. 0%). We also highlight the discrepancy in expectations of responsibility for trip logistics, research, and patient follow-up. We created and implemented the first otolaryngology-specific needs assessment tool in the literature. With its implementation in Ethiopia and Kenya, we were able to identify unmet needs as well as attitudes and perceptions of LMIC and HIC participants. This tool may be adapted and utilized to assess specific needs, resources, and goals of both host and visiting teams to facilitate successful global partnerships. Level VI.

Short-term general, gynecologic, orthopedic, and pediatric surgical mission trips in Nicaragua: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

BackgroundShort-term surgical missions facilitated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may be a possible platform for cost-effective international global surgical efforts. The objective of this study is to determine if short-term surgical mission trips provided by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Esperança to Nicaragua from 2016 to 2020 are cost-effective.MethodsUsing a provider perspective, the costs of implementing the surgical trips were collected via Esperança’s previous trip reports. The reports and patient data were analyzed to determine disability-adjusted life years averted from each surgical procedure provided in Nicaragua from 2016-2020. Average cost-effectiveness ratios for each surgical trip specialty were calculated to determine the average cost of averting one disability-adjusted life year.ResultsEsperança’s surgical missions’ program in Nicaragua from 2016 to 2020 was found to be cost-effective, with pediatric and gynecology surgical specialties being highly cost-effective and general and orthopedic surgical specialties being moderately cost-effective. These results were echoed in both scenarios of the sensitivity analysis, except for the orthopedic specialty which was found to not be cost-effective when testing an increased discount rate.ConclusionsThe cost-effectiveness of short-term surgical missions provided by NGOs can be cost-effective, but limitations include inconsistent data from a societal perspective and lack of an appropriate counterfactual. Future studies should examine the capacity for NGOs to collect adequate data and conduct rigorous economic evaluations.

Abstract A32: Postoperative analgesia in a Ugandan population

Abstract Introduction: Opioid dependence is a major problem in the Western world. There have been significant efforts seeking to optimize pain control pathways and minimize risk of dependence on opioid pain relievers. However, little is known in low- to middle-income countries regarding current practices in postoperative pain control and its efficacy. This study evaluates subjective pain scores of patients following head and neck surgeries in a Ugandan hospital. These patients are unique in that most are opioid naive. We hope to contribute to the understanding of adequate postoperative pain control in opioid naive patients. Methods: Twenty-five patients without chronic opioid use underwent head and neck surgery during a semiannual surgical outreach trip. Ages ranged from 4-77 years (mean 38). The most common procedures performed were hemithyroidectomy (5), total thyroidectomy (3), parotidectomy (3), tonsillectomy (2), and cystic hygroma removal (2). Charts were reviewed retrospectively for daily subjective pain scores assessed on a numerical scale of 0-5, length of hospital stay, postoperative medications given for pain, surgery type, and postoperative analgesic medications administered, including dosage and frequency. Wilcoxon analysis was used to compare medians between groups receiving paracetamol alone or in combination with opioids or other analgesics. Results: All patients received IV paracetamol postoperatively; 16% of patients also requested opioids, and 8% requested another nonopioid analgesic. Average age for the 6 patients receiving paracetamol and either opioids or another nonopioid analgesic was 49.17 years compared to 34.47 years in the group that received paracetamol only (p=0.26; 95% CI -12.5, 42.9). For the whole study population, there was a reduction in the median pain score of -1.9 points (p&amp;lt;0.005; 95% CI -2.5, -1.01). Patients who received only paracetamol showed a reduction in median pain score from 3 to 2 (p&amp;lt;0.05; 95% CI (1.01 - 2.5)) compared to a reduction from 2.5 to 2 (p=0.37) in patients who received paracetamol and any another class of analgesic. Individually the group of patients who received paracetamol and opioids reported a reduction in the median pain score from 3 to 2.5 (p=1), and the group of patients who received paracetamol and another nonopioid analgesic reported a reduction in median pain score from 1.5 to 1 (p=1). Conclusion: Despite language and cultural barriers, we were able to assess postoperative pain scores in a Ugandan population. Intravenous paracetamol alone was effective and adequate for postoperative pain management for the majority of patients in this study. Although this study was limited in sample size, there was no significant improvement observed in pain score for patients using opioids or nonopioid analgesics other than paracetamol compared to paracetamol only. Opioids or additional analgesics were requested by a minority of patients, who tended to be older and/or have undergone more extensive procedures. Citation Format: Sara Maskal, Nilam Patel, Claudia Cabrera, Akina Tamaki, Fiona Kabagenyi, Ian Bwete, Isaac Mukiibi, Edrisa Kabazzi, Katrina Harrill, Jeffrey Otiti, Jason Thuener, Chad Zender. Postoperative analgesia in a Ugandan population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr A32.

Pediatric ocular disease in an ophthalmic surgical mission trip to belize: A 7-year review

Purpose: The purpose is to identify the various causes of ocular disease and surgical interventions undertaken in children (0–18 years of age) seen during an annual ophthalmic surgical trip to Belize. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional review of records from seven annual surgical trips conducted by the World Pediatric Project providing pediatric ophthalmologic clinical and surgical care to Belize from 2013 to 2019 was performed. Results: The charts of 313 patients who received care during the surgical mission trips were examined. From these 313 patients, there were 545 independent clinical encounters, yielding 405 diagnoses. Patients aged 6–10 years were most commonly seen (32.1%) followed by those 2–5 years old (28.1%). The most common pathophysiology seen was strabismus/ocular motility disorder (151 diagnoses; 37.4%), followed by refractive issues (69 diagnoses; 17.1%), eyelids and/or lacrimal system disorders (53 diagnoses; 13.1%), disorders of the retina/vitreous (30 diagnoses; 7.4%), lens abnormalities/cataract (28 diagnoses; 6.9%), amblyopia (23 diagnoses; 5.7%), disorders of the cornea/conjunctiva (23 diagnoses; 5.7%), trauma (13 cases; 3.2%), conditions affecting the globe/orbit (7 diagnoses; 1.7%), other (6 diagnoses; 1.5%), and glaucoma (1 diagnoses, 0.2%). Conclusion: This study identified the most frequently diagnosed ocular conditions encountered during annual surgical mission trips to Belize. The most prevalent pathophysiology encountered was strabismus/ocular motility disorders, followed by refractive issues. The most common refractive issues encountered were myopia and astigmatism. This is the first study detailing pediatric ocular disease in Belize.

Ethiopian Surgical Camps a Win for Surgeons and Patients

Ethiopian Surgical Camps a Win for Surgeons and Patients

The establishment of a follow-up clinic to monitor patient outcomes for a short-term surgical trip to Haiti

INTRODUCTION: International organizations perform a large volume of surgery in lowand middle-income countries (LMIC) but very few report outcomes data. Among groups performing shortterm humanitarian surgery interventions, complication rates are unknown due to a lack of patient follow-up. As part of a one month Global Surgery Elective, we performed urologic and general surgery procedures at Hospital St. Therese (HST) in Hinche, Haiti. The purpose of this study is to determine if a short-term follow-up clinic is adequate to collect surgical outcomes data that would lead to improvements in patient outcomes.

Scaling Up Short-Term Humanitarian Surgery: A Global Surgery Elective for Senior Medical Students

The proportion of US medical students participating in global health has increased by 24%. These experiences are generally self-directed and lack a formal educational component. This article describes a structured, comprehensive, community-driven global surgery elective for senior-year students. "Surgery and Global Health" is a monthlong elective during which students shadow in the university hospital, lead discussions of an assigned text, attend lectures, and participate in a clinical rotation in rural Haiti. The first week is didactic and takes place in Atlanta, GA. Weeks 2 through 4 are clinical and are conducted in Haiti. Urological and general surgery procedures are performed during weeks 2 and 3, while the final week is reserved for follow-up care. This experience was institutionally supported. Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA; L'Hôpital St. Thérèse, Hinche, Centre, Haiti. Emory University School of Medicine students, years 2 through 4, supervised by faculty from the departments of Urology, General Surgery, and Anesthesiology. Senior-year students spent 21 days in central Haiti working in a rural clinical setting. Students participated in all facets of surgical care including preoperative clearance, postanesthesia care, discharge planning, and follow-up. Students felt a level of supervised responsibility that was not afforded at their home institution and were able to take on more advanced clinical roles. Students planned and executed this innovative experience with multidisciplinary, departmental, and institutional support. Stateside components introduced students to Haitian culture, global surgery ethics, and humanitarian surgical trip logistics. Structured global health experiences such as this give students practical skills and incentive to pursue careers involving global surgery.

Cleft lip-cleft palate in Zimbabwe: estimating the distribution of the surgical burden of disease using geographic information systems.

To evaluate the prevalence and unmet need for cleft lip-cleft palate reconstructive surgery by using incidence. Our hypotheses were that the age of presentation to screening clinics will decrease between 2006 and 2012, and the geospatial distribution of cases will expand to a more rural catchment area. Longitudinal cross-sectional/geospatial distribution study. An online, secure database was created from intake forms for children with cleft lip-cleft palate (N=604) in Zimbabwe (2006-2012). Univariate analysis was completed. A linear regression model was fitted to test the time trend of a child's age at the time of presentation. Unique patient addresses (n=411) were matched. Maps presenting cleft diagnosis and presentation year were created with geographic information systems (GIS) software. The median age of presentation was greater for isolated cleft palate (4.2 years, n=106) than isolated cleft lip (1.5 years, n=251) and cleft lip-cleft palate (2.0 years, n=175). Cleft lip cases were mostly left sided with equal gender distribution. The overall age of presentation remained stable (P=.83). The age of children with isolated cleft palate decreased by 0.8 years per surgical trip (P=.01), suggesting the prevalence of unrepaired cleft palate is decreasing due to local and visiting surgeons. The catchment area extended to a less populous area, but clustered around Harare and Bulawayo. This study gives Zimbabwe-specific evidence that supports reports of the persistent burden of disease requiring attention. The GIS software provided data for the primary needs assessment, which will direct communication to healthcare providers and prospective patients outside of the current catchment area. 3

Accelerating Surgical Training and Reducing the Burden of Surgical Disease in Haiti Before and After the Earthquake

In general, university-based global health initiatives have tended to focus on expanding access to primary care. In the past, surgical programs may have been characterized by sporadic participation with little educational focus. However, there have been some notable exceptions with plastic surgery volunteer missions. We offer another model of regularly scheduled surgical trips to rural Haiti in plastic and general surgery. The goal of these trips is to reduce the burden of surgical disease and ultimately repair every cleft lip/palate in Haiti. Another principal objective is to accelerate the training of American residents through increased case load and personal interaction with attending surgeons in a concentrated period. Diversity of the case load and the overall number of surgeries performed by residents in a typical surgical trip outpaces the experiences available during a typical week in an American hospital setting. More importantly, we continue to provide ongoing training to Haitian nurses and surgeons in surgical techniques and postoperative care. Our postoperative complication rate has been relatively low. Our follow-up rates have been lower than 70% despite intensive attempts to maintain continued communication with our patients. Through our experiences in surgical care in rural Haiti, we were able to quickly ramp up our trauma and orthopedic surgical care immediately after the earthquake. Project Medishare and the University of Miami continue to operate a trauma and acute care hospital in Port au Prince. The hospital provides ongoing orthopedic, trauma, and neurosurgical expertise from the rotating teams of American surgeons and training of Haitian surgeons in modern surgical techniques. We believe that surgical residencies in the United States can improve their training programs and reduce global surgical burden of disease through consistent trips and working closely with country partners.

Impact of a Yearly Head and Neck Surgery Trip to Rural Kenya

Objective: Surgical specialty trips to third world countries have been both praised and criticized for contributions to low-resource regions. Our objective was to learn the impact of a yearly head and neck surgery trip through initial analysis of 2 years of patient data. Method: Review of a prospectively maintained data repository cataloging surgical patients treated on a yearly head and neck surgical trip to Malindi, Kenya, during 2010 to 2011. Basic demographics, distance traveled for care, access to physicians, preoperative diagnosis, surgical procedure(s), and pathology results were recorded for each patient. Results: In 2 years, 222 surgeries were performed. Age of patients ranged between 6 months and 85 years, and patient sex was evenly split. Half of the patients came from outside the town of Malindi, and a third traveled over 100 km for care. A total of 5.7% were known to be HIV positive. The majority reported access to a local physician, and two-thirds were seen by one for their chief complaint, yet very few patients were offered prior surgical treatment. The most common surgeries performed were adenotonsillectomy, hemithyroidectomy, and biopsy/keloid/lipoma excision. A wide variety of cases were performed, and there were no immediate surgical complications. Conclusion: Annual surgical specialty trips to rural, resource-limited regions are worthwhile and offer procedures not otherwise available. It is important to collect patient, surgical, and pathology data on such trips. By continuing to collect valuable data, surgeons can determine the best procedures to teach local physicians and provide needed resources.

Intensive medical student involvement in short-term surgical trips provides safe and effective patient care: a case review

BackgroundThe hierarchical nature of medical education has been thought necessary for the safe care of patients. In this setting, medical students in particular have limited opportunities for experiential learning. We report on a student-faculty collaboration that has successfully operated an annual, short-term surgical intervention in Haiti for the last three years. Medical students were responsible for logistics and were overseen by faculty members for patient care. Substantial planning with local partners ensured that trip activities supplemented existing surgical services. A case review was performed hypothesizing that such trips could provide effective surgical care while also providing a suitable educational experience.FindingsOver three week-long trips, 64 cases were performed without any reported complications, and no immediate perioperative morbidity or mortality. A plurality of cases were complex urological procedures that required surgical skills that were locally unavailable (43%). Surgical productivity was twice that of comparable peer institutions in the region. Student roles in patient care were greatly expanded in comparison to those at U.S. academic medical centers and appropriate supervision was maintained.DiscussionThis demonstration project suggests that a properly designed surgical trip model can effectively balance the surgical needs of the community with an opportunity to expose young trainees to a clinical and cross-cultural experience rarely provided at this early stage of medical education. Few formalized programs currently exist although the experience above suggests the rewarding potential for broad-based adoption.