WOLVERINE Unleashed!
The launch webinar for the latest ESCP audit and cohort study ‘WOLVERINE’ took place on 07th November. The aim of this study is to conduct a prospective cohort study and audit in wound closure and SSI prevention following abdominal surgery.
Presentation
Panel Discussion
Amongst the panellists were GSU hub representatives from Ghana (Prof. Stephen Tabiri, Dr Napoleon Bellua Sam) and India (Dr Parvez David Haque).
WOLVERINE has 2 recruitment periods;
- Period 1: 01st November 2023 to 15th December 2023 (audit only)
- Period 2: 02nd January 2024 to 31st March 2024 (audit + elective cohort study)
Patient recruitment for the period 1 audit is now underway and you can register your centre to join here. More than 160 centres have already registered to participate.
If you have any questions please contact wolverine@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
New Publication: A Prospective, Observational Cost Comparison of Laparoscopic and Open Appendicectomy in Three Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria
We are pleased to share our latest publication in the World Journal of Surgery from Project LION, which was led by Dr Adewale Adisa at the NIHR Hub in Nigeria.
This study compared the outcome and cost of conventional open and laparoscopic appendectomy for clinically confirmed, uncomplicated, acute appendicitis in a low resource setting. Although the cost effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery has been investigated previously in high human development index (HDI) countries, similar studies are lacking in low and middle HDI countries.
The publication can be found on the following link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-023-07148-5
Upcoming Webinar On New WOLVERINE Study
The European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) latest audit and cohort study, Wound Closure and Surgical Site Infection Prevention Strategies in Abdominal Surgery (WOLVERINE) was launched at the Global Reach Symposium at ESCP's 2023 Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The aim of this study is to conduct a prospective cohort study and audit in wound closure and SSI prevention following abdominal surgery. The study will have two data collection periods, one beginning in November 2023, and a second beginning in January 2024. Interested sites can register here. Sites can take part in either the audit alone (November 2023), or the audit and cohort study (January 2024).
Join our upcoming webinar on 07th November to find out more about WOLVERINE. Book your place at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/escpstudies.
GSU Research Fellows, Staff Deliver Surgical Research Lectures in Nigeria
Research fellows and staff of the NIHR Global Surgery Unit (GSU) visited Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile Ife, Nigeria on the 14th-15th of September 2023 to deliver a series of lectures to medical students, surgical residents and other health care professionals.
The GSU contingent was composed of Dr Dmitri Nepogodiev- Public Health registrar and Academic Clinical Lecturer; Drs Maria Picciochi and Virginia Ledda- Clinical PhD Fellows; Dr Omar Omar- Senior Statistician and Epidemiologist, and Mr Michael Bahrami-Hessari- Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) manager.
The first lectures delivered on the afternoon of the 14th were aimed at 4th and final year medical students and included fundamental topics on the purpose of research and identifying a good research problem. This was followed by practical advice on how a research abstract is written and how an effective academic poster is constructed. Highlights of the GSU cluster randomised trial CHEETAH and DRAGON- an upcoming trial aiming to compare reusable versus disposable surgical drapes and gowns, were also presented. The session ended with the GSU visitors sharing practical tips on how to develop a career in research.
On the morning of the 15th, a research forum was held specifically for surgical residents and tackled topics such as generating research ideas, getting patient input and choosing the appropriate study design, research ethics, the basics of statistics, presenting and publishing research and how research can influence health guidelines and practice.
Finally, in the afternoon of the same day, a symposium on global surgery was held with a variety of health professionals in attendance. Topics included the sharing of the highlights of our randomised controlled trials (FALCON, CHEETAH, PENGUIN, DRAGON), cohort studies (COVIDSurg, HIPPO), health economics analysis (LION) and our CEI initiatives most notably the development of our community and patient education toolkit.
OAU is a spoke within the Nigeria Hub and has been a top recruiter in GSU trials.
GSU Patient and Community Education Toolkit Launched
The NIHR Global Surgery Unit launched its patient and community education toolkit during its annual meeting in Lagos, Nigeria on the 12th of September 2023. The toolkit is a library of bespoke, localised resources aimed at addressing patient and carer surgical concerns following community consultations across our Hubs in Benin, Ghana, India, Mexico, Nigeria and Rwanda.
From these consultations the most pressing priority identified was caring for surgical wounds at home. To address this, a concise animated video that teaches patients about the signs, symptoms, and self-management of surgical site infections (SSIs) was co-developed with input from stakeholders. The video has been translated into French, Spanish, Twi, Yoruba, Kinyarwanda and Hindi and can be viewed below:
Resources on additional topics identified by the community were also developed. These include early cancer detection, care after laparoscopic surgery, stoma care and what to expect before, during and after surgery. These materials make up the initial version of the dynamic, “living” toolkit which will be continuously refined and expanded as more studies and trials get underway in the unit.
These developed materials will be utilised in community outreach events and post-discharge briefings for our trial participants, and eventually in patient care. They will also be integrated into upcoming trials to evaluate their impact on patients.