Laparoscopy in Low-Income Countries: 10-Year Experience and Systematic Literature Review

Damiano Pizzol, Mike Trott, Igor Grabovac, Mario Antunes, Anna Claudia Colangelo, Simona Ippoliti, Cristian Petre Ilie, Anne Carrie, Nicola Veronese and Lee Smith
Additional contact information
Damiano Pizzol: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Khartoum 11111, Sudan
Mike Trott: The Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Igor Grabovac: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
Mario Antunes: Department of Surgery, Central Hospital of Beira, Beira 13016, Mozambique
Anna Claudia Colangelo: Department of Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Padua, 35125 Padua, Italy
Simona Ippoliti: Department of Urology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn PE30 4ET, UK
Cristian Petre Ilie: Department of Urology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn PE30 4ET, UK
Anne Carrie: Department of Urology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn PE30 4ET, UK
Nicola Veronese: Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, 90121 Palermo, Italy
Lee Smith: The Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: Laparoscopy is a procedure that ultimately reduces hospital stay time and speeds up post-operative recovery. It is mainly performed in high-income countries but its implementation in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing. However, no aggregate data exist regarding the outcomes of this procedure in resource-limited settings. We retrospectively reviewed all cases of laparoscopy recorded from January 2007 to March 2017 at the Department of Surgery of Beira to assess the related outcomes. Moreover, we performed a systematic review of the laparoscopic practices and outcomes in low-income countries. Data from the Department of Surgery of Beira identified 363 laparoscopic procedures, mainly relating to gynecological diseases, cholelithiasis, and appendicectomy with only a 1.6% complication rate (6 cases) and a 1.9% conversion rate (7 cases) to open surgery. The systematic review showed a pooled risk of overall complications significantly lower in laparoscopic vs. open appendicectomy (OR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.19–0.97; I 2 = 85.7%) and a significantly lower risk of infection (OR = 0.53; 95% CI 0.43–0.65; I 2 = 0.00%). The pooled SMD in operation duration in laparoscopic vs. open appendectomy was 0.58 (95% CI ?0.00; 1.15; I 2 = 96.52), while the pooled SMD in hospitalization days was ?1.35 (95% CI ?1.87; ?0.82; I 2 = 96.41). Laparoscopy is an expensive procedure to adopt as it requires new equipment and specialized trained health workers. However, it could reduce post-operative costs and complications, especially in terms of infections. It is crucial to increase its accessibility, acceptability, and quality particularly in LMICs, especially during this COVID-19 era when the reduction of patient hospitalization is essential.

Keywords: laparoscopy; low-income countries; minimal invasive surgery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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