The purpose of the GlobalSurg Project is to determine internationally relevant, modifiable surgical practices associated with the best outcomes. All patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery were enrolled including a range of quality measures. Outcomes included 24-hour perioperative mortality and 30-day morbidity and mortality. GlobalSurg demonstrates the type of research that can be done when investigators are willing to share data and collaborate.
Impact
As published in BMJ: Data included 10 745 patients from 357 centres in 58 countries; 6538 were from high-, 2889 from middle- and 1318 from low-HDI settings. Mortality is three times higher in low- compared with high-HDI countries even when adjusted for prognostic factors. Patient safety factors may have an important role. Adjusted mortality in children following emergency abdominal surgery may be as high as 7 times greater in low-HDI and middle-HDI countries compared with high-HDI countries
Student Experience
A McMaster surgical resident led the local data collection and ethics board approval.
