@article{ref1,
title="Operative trauma in low-resource settings: the experience of Médecins Sans Frontières in environments of conflict, postconflict, and disaster",
journal="Surgery",
year="2015",
author="Wong, Evan G. and Dominguez, Lynette and Trelles, Miguel and Ayobi, Samir and Hazraty, Khalil Rahman and Kasonga, Cheride and Basimuoneye, Jean-Paul and Santiague, Lunick and Kamal, Mustafa and Rahmoun, Alaa and Kushner, Adam L.",
volume="157",
number="5",
pages="850-856",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Conflicts and disasters remain prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, and injury remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe the operative procedures performed for injury-related pathologies at facilities supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to guide the planning of future responses. <br><br>METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of all MSF procedures performed between July 2008 and June 2014 for injury-related indications was completed. Individual data points included country of project and date of procedure; age, patient sex, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists' score of each patient; indication for surgery, including mechanism of injury; operative procedure; operative urgency; operative order; type of anesthesia; and intraoperative mortality. Injury severity was stratified according to operative order and urgency. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 79,715 procedures were performed in MSF projects that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 35,756 (44.9%) were performed specifically for traumatic indications across 17 countries. Even after excluding trauma centers, 29.4% (18,329/62,288) of operative cases were for injuries. Operative trauma procedures were performed most commonly for road traffic injuries (29.9%; 10,686/35,756). The most common procedure for acute trauma was extensive wound debridement (31.6%; 3,165/10,022) whereas burn dressings were the most frequent planned reoperation (27.1%; 4,361/16,078). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Trauma remains an important component of the operative care provided in humanitarian assistance. This review of procedures performed by MSF in a variety of settings provides valuable insight into demographics of trauma patients, mechanisms of injury, and surgical capabilities required in planning resource allocation for future humanitarian missions in low- and middle-income countries.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0039-6060",
doi="10.1016/j.surg.2014.12.021",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2014.12.021"
}