A new analysis sets out the extent to which the quality and extent of surgery in Africa lags behind the rest of the world.
Researchers say the number of operations is one 20th of those needed to meet basic surgical needs.
And mortality of patients is twice the global average despite surgeons undertaking much less complex procedures than elsewhere.
South African researchers gathered data on more than 11,000 patients at 247 hospitals in 25 countries for their study, reported last night in <i>The Lancet</i>.
The study showed that 20% of patients developed complications and 2% died. More than half the complications were infections.
Amongst those who lost their lives, the average survival was five days.
The research highlights the shortage of resources across the continent. Hospitals served, on average, 810,000 people and had 300 beds, four operating rooms and three critical care beds.
In the course of a week a hospital performed, on average, just 29 operations.
Researcher Professor Bruce Biccard, of Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa, said: “Our study reveals the scarce workforce resources available to provide safe surgical treatment. Although increased access to surgery is important, it is essential that that these surgical treatments are safe and effective.
“Importantly, 95% of deaths in our study occurred in the postoperative period, suggesting that many lives could be saved by effective monitoring of patients who have developed complications and increasing the resources necessary to achieve this objective.
“Surgical outcomes will remain poor in Africa until the problem of under-resourcing is addressed."
Professor Bruce Biccard et al. Perioperative patient outcomes in the African Surgical Outcomes Study: a 7-day prospective observational cohort study Lancet 3 January 2018; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30001-1 [abstract]
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