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The World Bank will publish the nine volumes of Disease Control Priorities, 3rd edition, in 2015-16. Volume 1 - Essential Surgery-identifies 44 surgical procedures as essential on the basis that they address substantial needs, are cost eff ective, and are feasible to implement. This report summarises and critically assesses the volume's five key findings. First, provision of essential surgical procedures would avert about 1.5 million deaths a year, or 6-7% of all avertable deaths in low-income and middle-income countries. Second, essential surgical procedures rank among the most cost eff ective of all health interventions. The surgical platform of the first-level hospital delivers 28 of the 44 essential procedures, making investment in this platform also highly cost eff ective. Third, measures to expand access to surgery, such as task sharing, have been shown to be safe and effective while countries make long-term investments in building surgical and anaesthesia workforces. Because emergency procedures constitute 23 of the 28 procedures provided at first-level hospitals, expansion of access requires that such facilities be widely geographically diffused. Fourth, substantial disparities remain in the safety of surgical care, driven by high perioperative mortality rates including anaesthesia-related deaths in low-income and middle-income countries. Feasible measures, such as WHO's Surgical Safety Checklist, have led to improvements in safety and quality. Fifth, the large burden of surgical disorders, cost-eff ectiveness of essential surgery, and strong public demand for surgical services suggest that universal coverage of essential surgery should be financed early on the path to universal health coverage. We point to estimates that full coverage of the component of universal coverage of essential surgery applicable to first-level hospitals would require just over US$3 billion annually of additional spending and yield a benefit-cost ratio of more than 10:1. It would efficiently and equitably provide health benefits, financial protection, and contributions to stronger health systems.

Byline: M. Joshipura, H. Shah, P. Patel, P. Divatia Trauma-care systems in India are at a nascent stage of development. Industrialized cities, rural towns and villages coexist, with variety of [...]

Biodiesel is one of the most promising alternates to fossil fuels. Production process of biodiesel requires separation of fatty acids (FAs) and their esters from the other products and reactants. This requires the phase equilibrium studies of the FA and their esters. For phase equilibrium study through equation of state (EOS), accurate prediction of vapor pressure is necessary. It was shown that most of the predictive methods fail to estimate acceptable values of vapor pressure. Peng-Robinson EOS was used in the present study to predict the vapor pressure. Proper values of critical properties are required for accurate prediction of vapor pressure through cubic EOS. Obtaining experimental critical properties of FAs and their ester are difficult. Ten methods for the prediction of critical properties were compared, and suitable methods for FA, FAME, and their mixtures were proposed. For accurate prediction of vapor pressure using cubic EOS, one requires suitable cohesion factor model. Predictive cohesion factor models did not perform well; hence, four compound-specific cohesion factor models were compared. Constants for all the four models for the compound considered were presented, and the models were compared for the accurate prediction of vapor pressure. It was observed that modified Trebble-Bishnoi type of cohesion factor model outperformed other models. Boiling points for pure FA and FAME were obtained with these four models. Prediction of boiling points for real-world biodiesel was also carried out. Modified Trebble-Bishnoi type model was found to be suitable for predictions of boiling points as well. © 2014 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma-care systems in India are at a nascent stage of development. Industrialised cities, rural towns and villages coexist, with almost complete lack of organised trauma care. There is gross disparity between trauma services available in various parts of the country. Rural India has inefficient services for trauma care, due to the varied topography, financial constraints and lack of appropriate health infrastructure. There is no national lead agency to co-ordinate various components of a trauma system. No mechanism for accreditation of trauma centres and professionals exists. Education in trauma life-support (TLS) skills has only recently become available. A nation-wide survey encompassing various facilities has demonstrated significant deficiencies in current trauma systems.Although injury is a major public-health problem, the Government of India has failed to recognise it as a priority. Significant efforts to develop trauma-care systems across the country are seen mainly in the private sector. New initiatives under National Health Policy 2002 are expected to result in improvement in the systems, but the allocation of funds remains grossly inadequate for any significant impact on the outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Each year approximately five million people die from injuries. In countries where systems of trauma care have been introduced, death and disability have decreased. A major component of developed trauma systems is a trauma quality improvement (TQI) program and trauma quality improvement meeting (TQIM). Effective TQIMs improve trauma care by identifying and fixing problems. But globally, TQIMs are absent or unstructured in most hospitals providing trauma care. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate a checklist for a structured TQIM.Methods: This project was conducted as a prospective before-and-after study in four major trauma centres in India. The intervention was the introduction of a structured TQIM using a checklist, introduced with a workshop. This workshop was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) TQI Programs short course and resources, plus the developed TQIM checklist. Pre- and post-intervention data collection occurred at all meetings in which cases of trauma death were discussed. The primary outcome was TQIM Checklist compliance, defined by the discussion of, and agreement upon each of the following: preventability of death, identification of opportunities to improve care and corrective actions and a plan for closing the loop.Results: There were 34 meetings in each phase, with 99 cases brought to the pre-intervention phase and 125 cases brought to the post-intervention phase. There was an increase in the proportion of cases brought to the meeting for which preventability of death was discussed (from 94% to 100%, p = 0.007) and agreed (from 7 to 19%, OR 3.7; 95% CI:1.4-9.4, p = 0.004) and for which a plan for closing the loop was discussed (from 2% to 18%, OR 10.9; 95% CI:2.5-47.6, p < 0.001) and agreed (from 2% to 18%, OR 10.9; 95% CI:2.5-47.6, p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study developed, implemented and evaluated a TQIM Checklist for improving TQIM processes. The introduction of a TQIM Checklist, with training, into four Indian trauma centres, led to more structured TQIMs, including increased discussion and agreement on preventability of death and plans for loop closure. A TQIM Checklist should be considered for all centres managing trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part of the solution to the growing problem of child injury is to strengthen the care that injured children receive. This paper will point out the potential health gains to be made by doing this and will then review recent advances in the care of injured children in individual institutions and countries. It will discuss how these individual efforts have been aided by increased international attention to trauma care. Although there are no major, well-funded global programmes to improve trauma care, recent guidance documents developed by WHO and a broad network of collaborators have stimulated increased global attention to improving planning and resources for trauma care. This has in turn led to increased attention to strengthening trauma care capabilities in countries, including needs assessments and implementation of WHO recommendations in national policy. Most of these global efforts, however, have not yet specifically addressed children. Given the special needs of the injured child and the high burden of injury-related death and disability among children, clearly greater emphasis on childhood trauma care is needed. Trauma care needs assessments being conducted in a growing number of countries need to focus more on capabilities for care of injured children. Trauma care policy development needs to better encompass childhood trauma care. More broadly, the growing network of individuals and groups collaborating to strengthen trauma care globally needs to engage a broader range of stakeholders who will focus on and champion the improvement of care for injured children. Copyright © 2009 World Health Organization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunomodulating agents interact with the immune system and alter the outcome of specific immune processes. As our understanding of the immune system continues to evolve, there is a growing effort to identify agents with immunomodulating applications to use therapeutically to treat various diseases. Mycobacterium w (Mw), a heat-killed mycobacterium, is an atypical mycobacterial species that possesses strong immunomodulatory properties. Mw was initially evaluated as an immune-therapeutic against leprosy, but since then Mw has generated a lot of interest and been studied for therapeutic applications across a host of diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous pericarditis, sepsis, lung cancer, and more. This article summarizes a large body of work published in the past five decades, describing various aspects of Mw and its potential for further therapeutic development., Competing Interests: Dr. BK, Dr. MJ, and Dr. RM are employees of Cadila Pharmaceutical Ltd CPL, company supplying Mw to various research groups whose work is included in this review. SM is on the Scientific Advisory Board of CPL. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Stefan, Gordon, Rolig, Honkala, Tailor, Davis, Modi, Joshipura, Khamar and Malhotra.)

Background & objectives Injuries profoundly impact global health, with substantial deaths and disabilities, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper presents strategic consensus from the Transdisciplinary Research, Advocacy, and Implementation Network for Trauma in India (TRAIN Trauma India) symposium, advocating for enhanced, system-level trauma care to address this challenge. Methods Five working groups conducted separate literature reviews on pre-hospital trauma care, in-hospital trauma resuscitation and training, trauma systems, trauma registries, and India's Towards Improving Trauma Care Outcomes (TITCO) registry. Using a Delphi approach, the TRAIN Trauma India Symposium generated consensus statements and recommendations for interventions to streamline trauma care and reduce preventable trauma mortality in India and LMICs. Experts prioritized interventions based on cost and difficulty. Results An expert panel agreed on four pre-hospital consensus statements, eight hospital resuscitation consensus statements, six system-level consensus statements, and six trauma registry consensus statements. The expert panel recommended six pre-hospital interventions, four hospital resuscitation interventions, nine system-level interventions, and seven trauma registry interventions applicable to the Indian context. Of these, 14 interventions were ranked as low cost/low difficulty, five high cost/low difficulty, five low cost/high difficulty, and three high cost/high difficulty. Interpretation & conclusions This consensus underscores the urgent need for integrated and efficient trauma systems to reduce preventable mortality, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive care that includes community engagement and robust pre-hospital and acute hospital trauma care pathways. It highlights the critical role of inclusive, system-wide approaches, from enhancing pre-hospital care and in-hospital resuscitation to implementing effective trauma registries to improve outcomes and streamline care across contexts.

Actions towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 typically focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with premature mortality, with less emphasis on NCDs associated with disability, such as musculoskeletal conditions-the leading contributor to the global burden of disability. Can systems strengthening priorities for an underprioritised NCD be codesigned, disseminated and evaluated? A 'roadmap' for strengthening global health systems for improved musculoskeletal health was launched in 2021. In this practice paper, we outline dissemination efforts for this Roadmap and insights on evaluating its reach, user experience and early adoption. A global network of 22 dissemination partners was established to drive dissemination efforts, focussing on Africa, Asia and Latin America, each supported with a suite of dissemination assets. Within a 6-month evaluation window, 52 Twitter posts were distributed, 2195 visitors from 109 countries accessed the online multilingual Roadmap and 138 downloads of the Roadmap per month were recorded. Among 254 end users who answered a user-experience survey, respondents 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed' the Roadmap was valuable (88.3%), credible (91.2%), useful (90.1%) and usable (85.4%). Most (77.8%) agreed or strongly agreed they would adopt the Roadmap in some way. Collection of real-world adoption case studies allowed unique insights into adoption practices in different contexts, settings and health system levels. Diversity in adoption examples suggests that the Roadmap has value and adoption potential at multiple touchpoints within health systems globally. With resourcing, harnessing an engaged global community and establishing a global network of partners, a systems strengthening tool can be cocreated, disseminated and formatively evaluated., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AMB reports grant income from AO Alliance, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology, Australian Rheumatology Association, Curtin University, Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology, and World Federation of Chiropractic related to the current work. AMB reports grant funding from the Australian Government, Department of Health; Medical Research Future Fund (Australian National Health and Medical Research Council); Western Australian Government Department of Health; Bone and Joint Decade Foundation; Curtin University; Institute for Bone and Joint Research (Australia); Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College; and Arthritis and Osteoporosis Western Australia outside the submitted work. AMB reports consultancy fees and travel support from the WHO and speaker fees from the American College of Rheumatology outside the current work. JC: reports personal income from Curtin University related to the current work. MC: reports institutional income from the Bone and Joint Decade Foundation related to the current work; and Royalties from Up-to-Date unrelated the current work. NMA: nothing to disclose. LF: reports leadership roles with World Physiotherapy and the International Federation of orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists. SAH: nothing to disclose. MJ: reports a leadership role with AO Alliance and personal fees. AAK: nothing to disclose. LM: reports institutional income from the Bone and Joint Decade Foundation related to the current work. LM reports grant income from Janssen Australia, NHMRC Australian Government CREE for Inflammatory Arthritis, MRFF Australian Government Adult Arthritis Biologic Tapering Trial, and MRFF Australian Government Juvenile Arthritis Biologic Tapering Trial outside the current work. LM reports data safety monitoring (unpaid) on an Australian Government funded trial for opioid medicines. LM reports leadership positions with the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health and the Australian Rheumatology Association. FM: reports a leadership position with the International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies. FR: nothing to disclose. SSarfraz: nothing to disclose. SSharma: reports fellowship funding from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and speaker fees and travel support from the IASP unrelated to the current work. SSharma reports leadership positions with the IASP. ERS: reports income from PANLAR, Abbvie, Elea and Pfizer outside the current work; testimony fees from Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Glaxo, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, UCB; and support for attening meetings from Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Amgen. HS: reports grant income from AO Alliance, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology, Australian Rheumatology Association, Curtin University, Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology, and World Federation of Chiropractic related to the current work. HS reports grant funding from the Australian Government, Department of Health; Medical Research Future Fund (Australian National Health and Medical Research Council); Western Australian Government Department of Health; Bone and Joint Decade Foundation; Curtin University; Institute for Bone and Joint Research (Australia); and Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College outside the submitted work. HS reports travel support from the Australian Pain Society to attend a scientific meeting., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Musculoskeletal (MSK) health impairments contribute substantially to the pain and disability burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet health systems strengthening (HSS) responses are nascent in these settings. We aimed to explore the contemporary context, framed as challenges and opportunities, for improving population-level prevention and management of MSK health in LMICs using secondary qualitative data from a previous study exploring HSS priorities for MSK health globally and (2) to contextualize these findings through a primary analysis of health policies for integrated management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in select LMICs. Part 1: 12 transcripts of interviews with LMIC-based key informants (KIs) were inductively analysed. Part 2: systematic content analysis of health policies for integrated care of NCDs where KIs were resident (Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines and South Africa). A thematic framework of LMIC-relevant challenges and opportunities was empirically derived and organized around five meta-themes: (1) MSK health is a low priority; (2) social determinants adversely affect MSK health; (3) healthcare system issues de-prioritize MSK health; (4) economic constraints restrict system capacity to direct and mobilize resources to MSK health; and (5) build research capacity. Twelve policy documents were included, describing explicit foci on cardiovascular disease (100%), diabetes (100%), respiratory conditions (100%) and cancer (89%); none explicitly focused on MSK health. Policy strategies were coded into three categories: (1) general principles for people-centred NCD care, (2) service delivery and (3) system strengthening. Four policies described strategies to address MSK health in some way, mostly related to injury care. Priorities and opportunities for HSS for MSK health identified by KIs aligned with broader strategies targeting NCDs identified in the policies. MSK health is not currently prioritized in NCD health policies among selected LMICs. However, opportunities to address the MSK-attributed disability burden exist through integrating MSK-specific HSS initiatives with initiatives targeting NCDs generally and injury and trauma care., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.)

Introduction: Despite the profound burden of disease, a strategic global response to optimise musculoskeletal (MSK) health and guide national-level health systems strengthening priorities remains absent. Auspiced by the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health (G-MUSC), we aimed to empirically derive requisite priorities and components of a strategic response to guide global and national-level action on MSK health., Methods: Design: mixed-methods, three-phase design.Phase 1: qualitative study with international key informants (KIs), including patient representatives and people with lived experience. KIs characterised the contemporary landscape for MSK health and priorities for a global strategic response.Phase 2: scoping review of national health policies to identify contemporary MSK policy trends and foci.Phase 3: informed by phases 1-2, was a global eDelphi where multisectoral panellists rated and iterated a framework of priorities and detailed components/actions., Results: Phase 1: 31 KIs representing 25 organisations were sampled from 20 countries (40% low and middle income (LMIC)). Inductively derived themes were used to construct a logic model to underpin latter phases, consisting of five guiding principles, eight strategic priority areas and seven accelerators for action.Phase 2: of the 165 documents identified, 41 (24.8%) from 22 countries (88% high-income countries) and 2 regions met the inclusion criteria. Eight overarching policy themes, supported by 47 subthemes, were derived, aligning closely with the logic model.Phase 3: 674 panellists from 72 countries (46% LMICs) participated in round 1 and 439 (65%) in round 2 of the eDelphi. Fifty-nine components were retained with 10 (17%) identified as essential for health systems. 97.6% and 94.8% agreed or strongly agreed the framework was valuable and credible, respectively, for health systems strengthening., Conclusion: An empirically derived framework, co-designed and strongly supported by multisectoral stakeholders, can now be used as a blueprint for global and country-level responses to improve MSK health and prioritise system strengthening initiatives., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AMB reports grants from the Bone and Joint Decade Foundation during the conduct of the study. CHS reports grants from Curtin University during the conduct of the study. HS reports grants from the Bone and Joint Decade Foundation during the conduct of the study; personal fees from AbbVie outside the submitted work. JEJ reports personal fees from Curtin University during the conduct of the study. SP has nothing to disclose. JJY reports grants from the Danish Foundation for Chiropractic Research and Post-graduate Education, grants from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, grants from Ontario Chiropractic Association, grants from National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company Foundation, grants from the University of Southern Denmark Faculty Scholarship outside the submitted work. SS has nothing to disclose. DK-G has nothing to disclose. SMishrra reports grants from Curtin University during the conduct of the study. KEA reports personal fees from Amgen, personal fees from UCB, personal fees from FAN, personal fees from Astellas pharma, personal fees from Chugai pharma outside the submitted work. NA has nothing to disclose. JB has nothing to disclose. NB reports personal fees from Amgen, personal fees from Grunenthal, personal fees from Lilly, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from Global Alliance for Patient Access outside the submitted work. FMB has nothing to disclose. RB reports personal fees from World Federation of Chiropractic outside the submitted work. DD has nothing to disclose. KED has nothing to disclose. LF has nothing to disclose. HEF has nothing to disclose. FG has nothing to disclose. SH has nothing to disclose. SAH has nothing to disclose. BH has nothing to disclose. AJ has nothing to disclose. MJ has nothing to disclose. AAK has nothing to disclose. JL has nothing to disclose. SMatsuda has nothing to disclose. AM reports grants, non-financial support and other from Merck KGaA; grants, non-financial support and other from Kolon TissueGene; grants, non-financial support and other from Merck KGaA; grants from Pfizer; grants from European Commission-Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI); grants from European Union Structural Funds administered by the Research Council of Lithuania (Lietuvos mokslo taryba); grants from European Union Structural Funds administered by the Research Council of Lithuania (Lietuvos mokslo taryba); grants from European Commission-Framework 7 (FP7-HEALTH); grants from European Commission-Framework 7 (FP7-PEOPLE) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Program; personal fees from Galapagos-Servier; personal fees from Image Analysis Group (IAG); personal fees, non-financial support and other from Artialis SA; personal fees and other from Aché (Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos); personal fees and other from Abbvie; personal fees from Guidepoint Global,; personal fees from Alphasights; personal fees from Science Branding Communications; personal fees and non-financial support from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare; non-financial support from GSK Consumer Healthcare; personal fees and other from Flexion Therapeutics; personal fees from Pacira Biosciences; other from Genacol; personal fees, non-financial support and other from Sterifarma; other from Henry Stewart Talks; non-financial support from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK); grants from Versus Arthritis (Arthritis Research UK); personal fees and other from Korean Society for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Repair; personal fees from American College of Rheumatology; personal fees and other from Spanish Society of Rheumatology; personal fees and other from Heilongjiang Rheumatology Association; personal fees and other from Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University; non-financial support and other from International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS); non-financial support and other from Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); non-financial support from AxDev International; other from Gordian Biotechnology; other from UNITY Biotechnology; personal fees and other from Bioiberica; other from The Dutch Arthritis Society (ReumaNederland); other from Kolon Life Science; personal fees from SANOFI; personal fees from European Commission; other from BRASIT/BRASOS, Brazil; other from GEOS, Brazil; other from European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS); other from Brazilian Society of Rheumatology (SBR); other from Society for Osteoarthritis Research (SOAR), India; other from MCI Group, Geneva outside the submitted work. LMwaniki has nothing to disclose. MCN has nothing to disclose. MP has nothing to disclose. FJJR has nothing to disclose. ERS reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Abbvie; personal fees from Amgen; personal fees from BMS; grants from Glaxo; grants and personal fees from Janssen; personal fees from Lilly; grants and personal fees from Novartis; grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Pfizer; grants and personal fees from Roche; grants, personal fees and non-financial support from UCB outside the submitted work. HT reports having authored two books: Life Beyond the Carpal Tunnel (2007) and Holistic Pain Relief (2014). JW has nothing to disclose. DW has nothing to disclose. ADW has nothing to disclose. LMarch reports personal fees from Lilly, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Abbvie, grants from Janssen outside the submitted work. LMarch is an executive member of OMERACT which receives funding from 30 different companies., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The burden of musculoskeletal conditions is growing worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the burden cannot be fully estimated, due to paucity of credible data. Further, no attempt has been made so far to estimate surgical burden of musculoskeletal conditions. This is a difficult task and accurate estimation of what would constitute surgical burden out of the total musculoskeletal burden in LMIC is not possible, due to number of constraints., Methods: This review looks at current understanding of the musculoskeletal conditions, that can be measured in LMIC and the limitations based on previous studies and past global burden of diseases estimates., Results: An attempt has been made to identify major conditions where a range of surgical burden can be predicted., Conclusion: We conclude that there is huge scope for improvement in the current surveillance mechanism of surgical procedures undertaken for musculoskeletal conditions in LMIC so that the surgical burden can be more accurately predicted. Unless this burden can be highlighted, the attention to these conditions in LMIC will be limited.

Importance: Armed conflict in the 21st century poses new challenges to a humanitarian surgical response, including changing security requirements, access to patients, and communities in need, limited deployable surgical assets, resource constraints, and the requirement to address both traumatic injuries as well as emergency surgical needs of the population. At the same time, recent improvements in trauma care and systems have reduced injury-related mortality. This combination of new challenges and medical capabilities warrants reconsideration of long-standing humanitarian surgery protocols., Objective: To describe a consensus framework for surgical care designed to respond to this emerging need., Design, Setting, and Participants: An international group of 35 representatives from humanitarian agencies, US military, and academic trauma programs was invited to the Stanford Humanitarian Surgical Response in Conflict Working Group to engage in a structured process to review extant trauma protocols and make recommendations for revision., Main Outcomes and Measures: The working group's method adapted core elements of a modified Delphi process combined with consensus development conference from August 3 to August 5, 2018., Results: Lessons from civilian and military trauma systems as well as recent battlefield experiences in humanitarian settings were integrated into a tiered continuum of response from point of injury through rehabilitation. The framework addresses the security and medical requirements as well as ethical and legal principles that guide humanitarian action. The consensus framework includes trained, lay first responders; far-forward resuscitation/stabilization centers; rapid damage control surgical access; and definitive care facilities. The system also includes nontrauma surgical care, injury prevention, quality improvement, data collection, and predeployment training requirements., Conclusions and Relevance: Evidence suggests that modern trauma systems save lives. However, the requirements of providing this standard of care in insecure conflict settings places new burdens on humanitarian systems that must provide both emergency and trauma surgical care. This consensus framework integrates advances in trauma care and surgical systems in response to a changing security environment. It is possible to reduce disparities and improve the standard of care in these settings.

Background: The completeness of a trauma registry's data is essential for its valid use. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of missing data in a new multicentre trauma registry in India and to assess the association between data completeness and potential predictors of missing data, particularly mortality., Methods: The proportion of missing data for variables among all adults was determined from data collected from 19 April 2016 to 30 April 2017. In-hospital physiological data were defined as missing if any of initial systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, or Glasgow Coma Scale were missing. Univariable logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression, using manual stepwise selection, were used to investigate the association between mortality (and other potential predictors) and missing physiological data., Results: Data on the 4466 trauma patients in the registry were analysed. Out of 59 variables, most (n = 51; 86.4%) were missing less than 20% of observations. There were 808 (18.1%) patients missing at least one of the first in-hospital physiological observations. Hospital death was associated with missing in-hospital physiological data (adjusted OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.02-2.01; p = 0.04). Other significant associations with missing data were: patient arrival time out of hours, hospital of care, 'other' place of injury, and specific injury mechanisms. Assault/homicide injury intent and occurrence of chest X-ray were associated with not missing any of first in-hospital physiological variables., Conclusion: Most variables were well collected. Hospital death, a proxy for more severe injury, was associated with missing first in-hospital physiological observations. This remains an important limitation for trauma registries.

Background: Trauma contributes more than ten percent of the global burden of disease. Initial assessment and resuscitation of trauma patients often requires rapid diagnosis and management of multiple concurrent complex conditions, and errors are common. We investigated whether implementing a trauma care checklist would improve care for injured patients in low-, middle-, and high-income countries., Methods: From 2010 to 2012, the impact of the World Health Organization (WHO) Trauma Care Checklist program was assessed in 11 hospitals using a stepped wedge pre- and post-intervention comparison with randomly assigned intervention start dates. Study sites represented nine countries with diverse economic and geographic contexts. Primary end points were adherence to process of care measures; secondary data on morbidity and mortality were also collected. Multilevel logistic regression models examined differences in measures pre- versus post-intervention, accounting for patient age, gender, injury severity, and center-specific variability., Results: Data were collected on 1641 patients before and 1781 after program implementation. Patient age (mean 34 ± 18 vs. 34 ± 18), sex (21 vs. 22 % female), and the proportion of patients with injury severity scores (ISS) ≥ 25 (10 vs. 10 %) were similar before and after checklist implementation (p > 0.05). Improvement was found for 18 of 19 process measures, including greater odds of having abdominal examination (OR 3.26), chest auscultation (OR 2.68), and distal pulse examination (OR 2.33) (all p < 0.05). These changes were robust to several sensitivity analyses., Conclusions: Implementation of the WHO Trauma Care Checklist was associated with substantial improvements in patient care process measures among a cohort of patients in diverse settings.

Objective: To understand the degree to which the trauma care guidelines released by the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2004 and 2009 have been used, and to identify priorities for the future implementation and dissemination of such guidelines., Methods: We conducted a systematic review, across 19 databases, in which the titles of the three sets of guidelines - Guidelines for essential trauma care, Prehospital trauma care systems and Guidelines for trauma quality improvement programmes - were used as the search terms. Results were validated via citation analysis and expert consultation. Two authors independently reviewed each record of the guidelines' implementation., Findings: We identified 578 records that provided evidence of dissemination of WHO trauma care guidelines and 101 information sources that together described 140 implementation events. Implementation evidence could be found for 51 countries - 14 (40%) of the 35 low-income countries, 15 (32%) of the 47 lower-middle income, 15 (28%) of the 53 upper-middle-income and 7 (12%) of the 59 high-income. Of the 140 implementations, 63 (45%) could be categorized as needs assessments, 38 (27%) as endorsements by stakeholders, 20 (14%) as incorporations into policy and 19 (14%) as educational interventions., Conclusion: Although WHO's trauma care guidelines have been widely implemented, no evidence was identified of their implementation in 143 countries. More serial needs assessments for the ongoing monitoring of capacity for trauma care in health systems and more incorporation of the guidelines into both the formal education of health-care providers and health policy are needed.

Background: We sought to assess the availability of technology-related equipment for trauma care in Nepal and to identify factors leading to optimal availability as well as deficiencies. We also sought to identify potential solutions addressing the deficits in terms of health systems management and product development., Methods: Thirty-two items for large hospitals and sixteen items for small hospitals related to the technological aspect of trauma care were selected from the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care for the current study. Fifty-six small and 29 large hospitals were assessed for availability of these items in the study area. Site visits included direct inspection and interviews with administrative, clinical, and bioengineering staff., Results: Deficiencies of many specific items were noted, including many that were inexpensive and which could have been easily supplied. Shortage of electricity was identified as a major infrastructural deficiency present in all parts of the country. Deficiencies of pulse oximetry and ventilators were observed in most hospitals, attributed in most part to frequent breakdowns and long downtimes because of lack of vendor-based service contracts or in-house maintenance staff. Sub-optimal oxygen supply was identified as a major and frequent deficiency contributing to disruption of services. All equipment was imported except for a small percent of suction machines and haemoglobinometers., Conclusions: The study identified a range of items which were deficient and whose availability could be improved cost-effectively and sustainably by better planning and organisation. The electricity deficit has been dealt with successfully in a few hospitals via direct feeder lines and installation of solar panels; wider implementation of these methods would help solve a large portion of the technological deficiencies. From a health systems management view-point, strengthening procurement and stocking of low cost items especially in remote parts of the country is needed. From a product development view-point, there is a need for robust pulse-oximeters and ventilators that are lower cost and which have longer durability and less need for repairs. Increasing capabilities for local manufacture is another potential method to increase availability of a range of equipment and spare parts., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: We sought to assess the status of availability of technology for trauma care in a state in India and to identify factors contributing to both adequate levels of availability and to deficiencies. We also sought to identify potential solutions to deficiencies in terms of health system management and product development., Methods: Thirty-two technology-related items were selected from the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care. The status of these items was assessed at 43 small and large hospitals in Gujarat State. Site visits utilized direct inspection and interviews with administrative, clinical, and bioengineering staff., Results: Many specific individual items could be better supplied, including many that were very low cost (e.g., chest tubes). Many deficiencies arose because of mismatch of resources, such as availability of equipment in the absence of personnel trained to use it. Several locally manufactured items were fairly well supplied: pulse oximetry, image intensification, and X-ray machines. Ventilators were often deficient because of inadequate numbers of units and frequent breakdowns., Conclusions: Availability of a range of lower-cost items could be improved by better organization and planning, such as: better procurement and stock management; eliminating mismatch of resources, including optimizing training for use of existing resources; and by strengthening service contracts and in-house repair capabilities. From a product development viewpoint, there is a need for lower cost, more durable, and easier to repair ventilators. Promoting increased capacity for local manufacturing should also be considered as a potential method to decrease cost and increase availability of a range of equipment.

Background: The burden of injury is greatest in developing countries. Trauma systems have reduced mortality in developed countries and trauma registries are known to be integral to monitoring and improving trauma care. There are relatively few trauma registries in developing countries and no reviews describing the experience of each registry. The aim of this study was to examine the collective published experience of trauma registries in developing countries., Methods: A structured review of the literature was performed. Relevant abstracts were identified by searching databases for all articles regarding a trauma registry in a developing country. A tool was used to abstract trauma registry details, including processes of data collection and analysis., Results: There were 84 articles, 76 of which were sourced from 47 registries. The remaining eight articles were perspectives. Most were from Iran, followed by China, Jamaica, South Africa and Uganda. Only two registries used the Injury Severity Score (ISS) to define inclusion criteria. Most registries collected data on variables from all five variable groups (demographics, injury event, process of care, injury severity and outcome). Several registries collected data for less than a total of 20 variables. Only three registries measured disability using a score. The most commonly used scores of injury severity were the ISS, followed by Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) and the Kampala Trauma Score (KTS)., Conclusion: Amongst the small number of trauma registries in developing countries, there is a large variation in processes. The implementation of trauma systems with trauma registries is feasible in under-resourced environments where they are desperately needed., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Quality Improvement (QI) programs have been shown to be a valuable tool to strengthen care of severely injured patients, but little is known about them in low and middle income countries (LMIC). We sought to explore opportunities to improve trauma QI activities in LMIC, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region., Methods: We performed a mixed methods research study using both inductive thematic analysis of a meeting convened at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne, Australia, November 21-22, 2010 and a pre-meeting survey to explore experiences with trauma QI activities in LMIC. Purposive sampling was employed to invite participants with demonstrated leadership in trauma care to provide diverse representation of organizations and countries within Asia-Pacific., Results: A total of 22 experts participated in the meeting and reported that trauma QI activities varied between countries and organizations: morbidity and mortality conferences (56 %), monitoring complications (31 %), preventable death studies (25 %), audit filters (19 %), and statistical methods for analyzing morbidity and mortality (6 %). Participants identified QI gaps to include paucity of reliable/valid injury data, lack of integrated trauma QI activities, absence of standards of care, lack of training in QI methods, and varying cultures of quality and safety. The group highlighted barriers to QI: limited engagement of leaders, organizational diversity, limited resources, heavy clinical workload, and medico-legal concerns. Participants proposed establishing the Asia-Pacific Trauma Quality Improvement Network (APTQIN) as a tool to facilitate training and dissemination of QI methods, injury data management, development of pilot QI projects, and advocacy for quality trauma care., Conclusions: Our study provides the first description of trauma QI practices, gaps in existing practices, and barriers to QI in LMIC of the Asia-Pacific region. In this study we identified opportunities for addressing these challenges, and that work will be supported by APTQIN.

Background: The burden of injury is very high in developing countries. Trauma systems reduce mortality; the trauma registry is a key driver of improvements in trauma care. Developing countries have begun to develop trauma systems but the level of local trauma registry activity is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine a global estimate of trauma registry activity., Methods: A structured review of the literature was performed. All abstracts referring to a trauma registry over a two-year period were included. For the trauma registry described in each abstract, the source country was recorded. An additional search of web pages posted over a one year period was conducted. Those linked to an active trauma registry website were included and the country of the trauma registry was recorded. A selection of trauma registries from countries of different levels of development were identified and compared., Results: 571 abstracts were included in the review. Most articles utilised "general" trauma registries (436(76%)) and were based at a single hospital (279(49%)). Other registries were limited to military or paediatric populations (36(6%) and 35(6%) articles respectively). Most articles sourced registries from the US (288(50%)), followed by Australia (45(8%)), Germany (32(6%)), Canada (27(5%)), UK (13(2%)), China (13(2%)) and Israel (12(2%)). The Americas produced most trauma registry articles and South East Asia the least. The majority of trauma registry articles originated from very highly developed countries 467(82%). Least developed countries had the fewest (5(1%)). The additional search yielded 37 web pages linked to 27 different trauma registry websites. Most of these were based in the US (16(59%)). The basic features of trauma registries, such as inclusion criteria, number and type of variables and injury severity scoring, varied widely depending on the country's level of development., Conclusion: This review, using a combination of the number of trauma registry articles and web pages to locate active trauma registries, demonstrated the disparity in trauma registry activity between the most and least developed countries. The absence of trauma care information systems remains a challenge to trauma system development globally., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Injury and other medical emergencies are becoming increasingly common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many to most of the deaths from these conditions occur outside of hospitals, necessitating the development of prehospital care. Prehospital capabilities are inadequately developed to meet the growing needs for emergency care in most LMICs., Objective: In order to better plan for development of prehospital care globally, this study sought to better understand the current status of prehospital care in a wide range of LMICs., Methods: A survey was conducted of emergency medical services (EMS) leaders and other key informants in 13 LMICs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Questions addressed methods of transport to hospital, training and certification of EMS providers, organization and funding of EMS systems, public access to prehospital care, and barriers to EMS development., Results: Prehospital care capabilities varied significantly, but in general were less developed in low-income countries and in rural areas, where utilization of formal EMS was often very low. Commercial drivers, volunteers, and other bystanders provided a large proportion of prehospital transport and occasionally also provided first aid in many locations. Although taxes and mandatory motor vehicle insurance provided supplemental funds to EMS in 85% of the countries, the most frequently cited barriers to further development of prehospital care was inadequate funding (36% of barriers cited). The next most commonly cited barriers were lack of leadership within the system (18%) and lack of legislation setting standards (18%)., Conclusions: Expansion of prehospital care to currently underserved or unserved areas, especially in low-income countries and in rural areas, could make use of the already-existing networks of first responders, such as commercial drivers and laypersons. Efforts to increase their effectiveness, such as more widespread first-aid training, and better encompassing their efforts within formal EMS, are warranted. In terms of existing formal EMS, there is a need for increased and more regular funding, integration and coordination among existing services, and improved organization and leadership, as could be accomplished by making EMS administration and leadership a more desirable career path.

Background: Reducing the global burden of injury requires both injury prevention and improved trauma care. We sought to provide an estimate of the number of lives that could be saved by improvements in trauma care, especially in low income and middle income countries., Methods: Prior data showed differences in case fatality rates for seriously injured persons (Injury Severity Score ≥ 9) in three separate locations: Seattle, WA (high income; case fatality 35%); Monterrey, Mexico (middle income; case fatality 55%); and Kumasi, Ghana (low income; case fatality 63%). For the present study, total numbers of injury deaths in all countries in different economic strata were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease study. The number of lives that could potentially be saved from improvements in trauma care globally was calculated as the difference in current number of deaths from trauma in low income and middle income countries minus the number of deaths that would have occurred if case fatality rates in these locations were decreased to the case fatality rate in high income countries., Results: Between 1,730,000 and 1,965,000 lives could be saved in low income and middle income countries if case fatality rates among seriously injured persons could be reduced to those in high income countries. This amounts to 34-38% of all injury deaths., Conclusions: A significant number of lives could be saved by improvements in trauma care globally. This is another piece of evidence in support of investment in and greater attention to strengthening trauma care services globally.

Background: Quality improvement (QI) programs are an integral part of well-developed trauma systems. However, they have not been extensively implemented globally. To promote greater use of effective QI programs, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care (IATSIC) have been collaboratively developing the upcoming Guidelines for Trauma Quality Improvement Programmes. As part of the development of this publication and to satisfy global demands for WHO guidelines to be evidence based, we conducted a thorough literature search on the effectiveness of trauma QI programs., Methods: The review was based on a PubMed search of all articles reporting an outcome from a trauma QI program., Results: Thirty-six articles were identified that reported results of evaluations of a trauma QI program or in which the trauma QI program was integrally related to identification and correction of specific problems. Thirteen of these articles reported on mortality as their main outcome; 12 reported on changes in morbidity (infection rates, complications), patient satisfaction, costs, or other outcomes of tangible patient benefit; and 11 reported on changes in process of care. Thirty articles addressed hospital-based care; four system-wide care; and two prehospital care. Thirty-four articles reported an improvement in the outcome assessed; two reported no change; and none reported worsening of the outcome. Five articles also reported cost savings., Conclusions: Trauma QI programs are consistently shown to improve the process of care, decrease mortality, and decrease costs. Further efforts to promote trauma QI globally are warranted. These findings support the further development and promulgation of the WHO-IATSIC Guidelines for Trauma QI Programmes.

On May 23, 2007, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted WHA Resolution 60.22, "Health Systems: Emergency Care Systems," which called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and governments to adopt a variety of measures to strengthen trauma and emergency care services worldwide. This resolution constituted some of the highest level attention ever devoted to trauma care worldwide. This article reviews the background of this resolution and discusses how it can be of use to surgeons, emergency physicians, and others who care for the injured, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have been shown to have a very high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Screening for OSA is recommended for PCOS patients. How far this is carried out in actual practice is unknown. To study practice patterns with regard to screening for OSA in physicians-both obstetrician/gynecologists (ObGyn) and endocrinologist-who manage PCOS. A secondary aim of this study was to identify practice differences, if any. Two hundred ObGyn and 140 endocrine academic institutions were contacted and mailed with questionnaires, if willing to participate. Responses were obtained from 50 (29.4%) ObGyn physicians and 29 (26.4%) endocrine physicians. The questionnaire was closed-ended. Physicians reported a high occurrence of obesity-36.7% of the physicians reported that 75-100% of their patients had morbid obesity. However, reported prevalence of symptoms was low-86.1% of the physicians felt their patients snored infrequently (<25% of the time) and 74.7% felt that their patients had excess daytime sleepiness (EDS) infrequently. Of the physicians, 92.4% ordered a sleep study <25% of the time. No significant difference in practice between the specialties was identified. Physicians who manage PCOS patients do not believe that these patients have significant symptoms nor warrant frequent testing for OSA. This may reflect lack of knowledge about the link or may imply that PCOS patients remain largely asymptomatic. Educating specialist physicians managing PCOS about OSA and improved tools for OSA screening may improve detection.