Why Deaths from Surgeries Are Highest in Africa
Why Deaths from Surgeries Are Highest in Africa
Death rates for patients undergoing surgeries in Africa are double the global average even though they tend to be younger, scientists said, adding that many deaths were likely preventable.
According to a study published in the Lancet medical journal, scientists said contributory factors include few specialists, poor hospital infrastructure and a lack of post-operative monitoring.
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“Patients receiving surgery in Africa are younger than the global average, with a lower-risk profile and lower complication rates, and yet are twice as likely to die,” the authors wrote.
The survey, the most comprehensive study of surgery in Africa, was funded by the Medical Research Council of South Africa and covered 247 hospitals in 25 countries.
It s...