World Journal of Laparoscopic Surgery

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VOLUME 9 , ISSUE 2 ( May-August, 2016 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Laparoscopic Surgery in Low-income and Limited-resource Settings: Does It safely add Value? A Review of 2,901 Laparoscopic Gynecologic Procedures

Rafique B Parkar, Leeya F Pinder, JG Wanyoike, Yamal Patel, David Otieno, Yusuf Palkhi, Richard Baraza, Khama Rogo

Citation Information : Parkar RB, Pinder LF, Wanyoike J, Patel Y, Otieno D, Palkhi Y, Baraza R, Rogo K. Laparoscopic Surgery in Low-income and Limited-resource Settings: Does It safely add Value? A Review of 2,901 Laparoscopic Gynecologic Procedures. World J Lap Surg 2016; 9 (2):82-85.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10033-1278

Published Online: 01-03-2011

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objectives

Of the 234 million surgeries conducted yearly worldwide, only 3.5% are carried out in low-income countries. Known advantages exist to laparoscopic surgery, and it is widely utilized in high-income countries; however, many barriers exist to uptake in low-income countries. Since 1992, laparoscopic surgery has been successfully undertaken in various rural public hospitals in Kenya. We sought to review outcomes of laparoscopic surgeries performed by our group in these facilities.

Materials and methods

Between 1992 and 2015, 3,119 laparoscopic procedures were performed at 17 rural hospitals in Kenya as a part of the Round Table's “Week of Healing Project.” The medical and operative records of all patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery were retrospectively reviewed for outcomes.

Results

During the reporting period, 2,901 cases performed were gynecologic procedures; the mean age of patients was 34.2. Forty-one complications were encountered (1.41%), and one death (0.03%) occurred secondary to hemorrhage following conversion to laparotomy for an ovarian tumor. The mean hospitalization was 1.9 days.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic surgery is feasible, safe, and cost-effective, and it has important advantages in low-income countries with limited resources. Laparoscopic surgery does add value in low-resource settings, and our activities demonstrate that it is a safe alternative to traditional open modalities of surgery.

How to cite this article

Parkar RB, Pinder LF, Wanyoike JG, Patel Y, Otieno D, Palkhi Y, Baraza R, Rogo K. Laparoscopic Surgery in Low-income and Limited-resource Settings: Does It safely add Value? A Review of 2,901 Laparoscopic Gynecologic Procedures. World J Lap Surg 2016;9(2):82-85.


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