COVIDSurg-3 results webinar

Results from the latest dataset to be discussed this Thursday 20th October

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the CovidSurg-3 study. Outcomes data for almost 20,000 patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection has now been collected, across 937 hospitals in 89 countries.

The results have been analysed and the team responsible for the pioneering study would like to invite you to their webinar where CovidSurg-3 results will be released for the first time where they will explore:

  • Is surgery safe in the Omicron-era?
  • Does SARS-CoV-2 vaccination reduce patient risk?
  • Do patients who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 need to be delayed before surgery?
  • Can we relax COVID restrictions and increase surgical volume?

The webinar will be on Thursday 20 October 2022.
Time: 1100 Los Angeles | 1400 New York | 1500 Brasilia | 1900 BST (UK) | 2000 CET | 2100 Riyadh

You can register for the webinar here.


GSU Birmingham Team visits Rwanda Hub for SIV, Monitoring and CEI

University of Birmingham colleagues visit Rwanda for the launch of ProtectSurg and Community Engagement activities

 

Members of the Global Surgery Unit (GSU) of the University of Birmingham visited the GSU Rwanda Hub (hosted at the University of Rwanda) from 19-22 July 2022 for the ProtectSurg site initiation visit and monitoring training and Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) training and activities. The team also spoke during the 1st University Research Open Day where they spoke about GSU’s recently-concluded trials FALCON and CHEETAH

 

ProtectSurg is a platform trial that aims to test an inhaled drug that aims to test an inhaled drug that may prevent pulmonary complications such as pneumonia and flu following surgery. FALCON, on the other hand, tested the effectiveness of alcoholic chlorhexidine versus povidone-iodine for skin preparation and the use of antibiotic-coated sutures for surgery to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs). Finally, CHEETAH aimed to look at the impact of changing gloves and instruments before wound closure in preventing SSIs.

 

The Birmingham team also visited Kibogora Hospital- one of the research spoke sites of the Rwanda Hub where training on ProtectSurg was also done. In addition, selected Community Health Workers (CHWs) in the district were invited to a CEI activity where their awareness and views on research were obtained. The CHWs were also asked about their knowledge of post-surgical care and what sort of training they would need to better support the villages they serve.

 

The visiting Birmingham team comprised Rachel Lillywhite- Trials Management Team Leader, Donna Smith- Senior Trial Manager and Michael Bahrami-Hessari- Community Engagement and Involvement Manager.


Recent GSU event hosted through Nigeria Hub discusses GlobalSurg 1 ouctome

Surgical experts call for improved efficiencies through increased cross-functional collaboration and partnership in Nigeria

A recent dissemination and engagement event that took place in Nigeria through the GSU's national hub, based in Lagos, looked at various outcomes associated with the GlobalSurg Unit 1 Studies.

The event was held in Ikoyi, Lagos state and was attended by a multitude of academics, clinicians, government bodies and policy makers who all listened to a variety of presentations from colleagues across the GSU network.

You can read the in-depth report from our Nigeria Hub here.

You can also find out more about the Nigeria Team by clicking here.

Further information on GlobalSurg 1 can be found here.


GlobalSurg 3 publication in The Lancet looks at role of hospital facilities in determining patient outcomes

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Early death following cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries. Despite this, little research exists on the relationship between hospital facilities and early postoperative outcomes.

A recent study co-ordinated within the NIHR Global Surgery Unit and resulting publication in The Lancet looks at this relationship and argues that for every 100 cancer operations, one to three early surgical deaths could be saved with improvements to hospital resources worldwide.

The manuscript containing further information can be accessed here.

More information on GlobalSurg 3 can be accessed here.

 


New GSU publication in The Lancet looks into surgical site infection (SSI) reductions

Alcoholic chlorhexidine skin preparation or triclosan-coated sutures to reduce surgical site infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of high-quality randomised controlled trials

Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common complication after surgery worldwide, affecting up to one in five patients across all surgical specialties.

A new meta-analysis, orchestrated by the NIHR Global Surgery Unit has shown that contrary to previous meta-analyses conducted on this subject, no benefit was shown from using alcoholic chlorhexidine skin preparation or triclosan-coated sutures, both of which are more expensive than other readily available alternatives.

The meta-analysis argues for the reconsideration and potential removal of recommendations (both national and global guidance) of routine use of such procedures for the purpose of reducing SSIs.

The manuscript containing further information can be accessed here.


ESCP Global Reach Webinar ‘Global Challenges in Proctology’

Registration for next ESCP webinar now open

Register today to join the next ESCP Global Reach Webinar ‘Global Challenges in Proctology’

This free webinar will take place via Zoom on Monday 27th June at 11:00 BST/ 12:00 CEST and will be hosted by the EAGLE Chief Investigator, Prof. Dion Morton and Varut Lohsiriwat.

Join a global panel of experts to hear the latest news and developments around anal fistulas and pelvic floor disorders. The latest updates on EAGLE, East of Damascus and news of an exciting new wound closure trial will also be shared during the webinar.

Find out more and register your place today at https://www.escp.eu.com/conference-and-events/global-reach-webinar.

You can the the webinar poster here.


NIHR Global Surgery Co-Director's Inaugural Lecture

Dr. Stephen Tabiri, Director of the NIHR GSU's Ghana Hub to deliver Inaugural Lecture

Dr Stephen Tabiri has been a driving force of the evolution of the GSU, alongside Professor Dion Morton since it's inception back in 2018. Dr. Tabiri's career to date has enabled him to accomplish many achievements, including the development of Ghana's national health sector, along with postgraduate training in surgery at Tamale Teaching Hospital.

As part of the celebrations of Dr. Tabiri's recent promotion to the rank of Professor at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Ghana, the established Director of the GSU's Ghana Hub and Co-Director of the NIHR GSU's global operations will be delivering his 11th Inaugural Lecture this Thursday 28th April. The lecture will take place at the Multipurpose Auditorium at Central Campus of UDS at 2PM local Ghana time.

You can find out further information on both Dr. Tabiri's career, in addition to further information on the upcoming lecture here.


GSU launch PANDA study

Last week we launched our newest study in collaboration with the University of Cape Town

PANDA: Identifying Patient priorities for reseArch in global surgery through a qualitative exploratioN of patients' cAre experiences in low- and middle-income countries study will be a collaboration between the NIHR Global Surgery Unit and the University of Cape Town.

This single centre pilot study will use qualitative methods to explore patients stories of their care journeys, and identify priorities to underpin future surgical research. These will then undergo ranking by a sample of patients undergoing midline laparotomy (major abdominal surgery) recruited to the PENGUIN trial.

The project is designed closely with community and patient representatives and will be working with a patient-researcher for the first time within global surgery to help deliver and interpret the interview data.

You can access the PowerPoint presentation for the study here.

 


CORREA Deadline Extended

The deadline to begin the 6-week data collection for the Colorectal Resection ESCP Snapshot Audit (CORREA) has been extended from 31st March 2022 to 30th April 2022.

Over 1100 patients have already been entered into the audit since data collection opened in January 2022.

Participating sites can now begin their 6-week data collection period on any day up to 30th April and collect data for 6 subsequent weeks thereafter. The ESCP Cohort Studies and Audits Committee have extended the start date to allow centres experiencing delays in receiving approvals to participate.

We encourage all participating sites to begin data collection as soon as possible when approvals are in place.

Please contact escp@contacts.bham.ac.uk if you have any questions.

Visit https://redcap.link/correa to register for the study.

You can obtain the CORREA extension letter here

 


ESCP Global Reach Webinar: Developments in Care for Colorectal Cancer

Save the date for the next ESCP Global Reach Webinar: Developments in Care for Colorectal Cancer.

This free webinar will take place via Zoom on Monday 21st March at 11:00 GMT / 12:00 CET/ 19:00 HKT/ 20:00 JST with all lectures and discussions re-broadcast at 18:00 Argentina Time (21:00 GMT)

Programme Highlights:

  • Supporting care during COVID - A global review
  • Trial updates: EAGLE and East of DAMASCUS
  • Developing neoadjuvant treatment for colon cancer and introducing ctDNA monitoring

You can find out more and register your interest here.