EAGLE recruits 2500th Patient!
Pioneering study still recruiting, following achievement of key milestone
The ESCP Safe-anastomosis Programme in Colorectal Surgery (EAGLE) study has recently recruited its 2500th patient, the patient was entered by the EAGLE team from Cluj-Napoca Municipal Hospital. In total, 261 hospitals have so far entered patients to the study. EAGLE is an international, multi-centre, cluster randomised-sequence service improvement study of the ESCP Safe-anastomosis Quality Improvement Intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy and ileocaecal resection.
EAGLE has so far randomised 334 sites from across 65 different countries to take part in the study. Logins to the EAGLE safe-anastomosis modules have been issued to 3200 surgeons and trainees with 2000 already having accessed the modules. All hospitals taking part in the study receive free access to the CPD accredited online modules.
The next EAGLE randomisation will take place in February/March 2022 and EAGLE is still recruiting new hospitals.
You can find further information on the EAGLE study here and register to take part in the study here.
NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery awarded £7 million in new funding
World-leading surgical research has been given new funding to help save more lives globally - news story
Following a successful bid for new funding from the National Institute of Health Research, work undertaken by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery (NIHR GSU) will look to build upon previous research centred around surgical capacity building and prevention of post-operative complications in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMIC).
Following the GSU's establishment in 2017, the new funding will enable the unit to continue its global research for at least the next 5 years. Researchers will be looking to bring innovation into the health systems of high-income countries through the piloting of various innovative practices in LMICs - proving their value ahead of a wider roll-out.
Based at the University of Birmingham, it is co-directed by Professor Dion Morton OBE, Barling Chair of Surgery and Professor Stephen Tabiri, Dean of the Medical School at University for Development Studies in Tamale, Ghana.
You can view the press release here.
COVID-19 disruption will lead to as many as 28 million surgeries cancelled worldwide
COVID-19 patients who undergo surgery are at increased risk of postoperative death – global study
Many patients currently waiting for operations across the globe have faced the prospect of having their procedures delayed or even cancelled in the light off the COVID-19 pandemic.
New research by the COVIDSurg collaborative has projected that, over a 12-week period of peak disruption to hospital services due to COVID-19, 28.4 million elective surgeries worldwide were cancelled or postponed in 2020.
Data derived from surgeons across 359 hospitals and 71 countries resulted in the projections. The modelling study also suggested that each additional week of disruption to hospital services will lead to a further 2.4 million cancellations.
The full paper can be viewed here.
COVID-19 patients who undergo surgery are at increased risk of postoperative death – global study
COVID-19 patients who undergo surgery are at increased risk of postoperative death – global study
Patients admitted to hospital for surgical procedures after contracting COVID-19 are at a greatly increased risk of postoperative death, compared to patients undergoing surgery who do not have SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Research conducted through the COVIDSurg collaborative has provided evidence that shows the impact that COVID-19 is having on patients who undergo surgical procedures across the world.
Data collected for 1,128 patients from 235 hospitals, located across 24 countries has resulted in the collective recommending that thresholds for surgery during the pandemic are raised compared to normal practice.
The full paper can be read here.
NIHR-funded study shows patients who isolate before surgery are 20% more likely to develop postoperative lung complications
NIHR-funded study shows patients who isolate before surgery are 20% more likely to develop postoperative lung complications
The COVID-19 pandemic has required patients across the globe to isolate prior to surgery to minimise exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and its complications.
A new global study from the COVIDSurg collaborative has shown a clear link between isolation of such groups and increased risk of developing post-operative lung complications, compared with patients who do not isolate.
The research team said that the results of the study go against current guidance in common use which mandates isolation before surgery.
The paper can be viewed here.
Urgent changes needed to global guidelines designed to stop surgical site infection
Wound infections are the most common problem after surgery, with this issue being particularly prevalent in developing countries.
New innovations have promised to tackle this issue, but the release of findings from a new study from the FALCON collaborative demonstrate a clear need to change current guidelines.
Carried out in Benin, Ghana, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, the FALCON trial found that using more expensive interventions to prevent Surgical Site Infection (SSI) were no better than cheaper alternatives.
The full paper can be viewed here.