Key result
Low-risk pediatric elective surgery in Niger carries a ~12% rate of perioperative critical incidents.
Why the study?
Despite recognition of surgery and anaesthesia as universal health coverage components, 1.7 billion children lack access to safe surgical care, disproportionately affecting LMICs and Africa where paediatric perioperative mortality is elevated.
Highlights the severe inequities in access to and safety of paediatric anaesthesia care in Africa compared to high-income countries.
Suggests elevated perioperative risks in low-resource African settings; leaves open the need for targeted safety interventions and prospective studies.
In 2015, the World Health Organization and member states recognised surgery and anaesthesia care as a component of universal health coverage, yet 1.7 billion children and adolescents continue to lack access to safe surgical care. An overwhelming proportion of these children are from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Africa, where almost 50% of the population is under the age of 15, children are disproportionately affected. Without sustained global efforts, these inequities and injustices will persist. Findings from previous studies suggest a 10–100 times increase in paediatric perioperative mortality in children in LMICs as compared to high-income countries (HICs). While pieces of the puzzle may be missing, it is clear that not only is access a problem, but also the safety and quality of the perioperative care provided is of concern.
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Gray et al. (2022) conducted an editorial in Paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery (n=231). Perioperative anaesthesia care was evaluated on Perioperative critical incidents. In a prospective observational study of 231 low-risk paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery in Niger, perioperative critical incidents occurred in 11.7% of cases.
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