A day in the life of a paediatric surgeon: a PAPSA research study

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to create a snapshot picture of the global workload of paediatric surgeons and identify differences between countries.
Methods Surgeons from 13 paediatric surgical units in different countries across the world were asked to record the number and type of admissions to the paediatric surgery service over a 24-h period from 8 a.m. on 23 May 2012.
Results Data were recorded for 13 units from 13 countries: 11 low and middle  income countries (LMICs) and two high-income countries (HICs). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, had the greatest number of admissions. Two units in HICs had the lowest number of admissions, other than the Nigerian unit, which only had three admissions due to a hospital strike on the day surveyed. The percentage of emergency  admissions ranged from 38 to 83%. Those units with the highest number of total admissions tended to also have the highest proportion of emergencies. Trauma was  the most frequently reported admission reason, accounting for 18% of admissions. However, there were no cases of trauma in HIC units.
Conclusion The spectrum of paediatric surgery differs between countries, in  particular between LMICs and HICs. Units in LMICs tend to have a greater number  of admissions, including a wider variety of conditions and a higher proportion of emergency work. Paediatric surgery in LMICs faces many challenges. This  highlights the importance of training specialist paediatric surgeons in these countries. Further data are still needed to fully outline the burden of disease in paediatric surgery, especially in LMICs.

Keywords: epidemiology, global surgery, paediatric surgery