Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32409865›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of surgery2020

Soft Tissue Sepsis Places a Massive Burden on Regional and Tertiary Surgical Services in KZN Province South Africa.

Vincent Ehlers, C Kohler, Natasha Di Rago, Aida Tefera, Elizabeth Lutge, Damian Clarke

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Vincent EhlersDepartment of Surgery, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospitals Complex, Grey's Hospital, 201 Townbush Road, Private Bag X9001, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
C KohlerDepartment of Surgery, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospitals Complex, Grey's Hospital, 201 Townbush Road, Private Bag X9001, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
Natasha Di RagoDepartment of Surgery, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospitals Complex, Grey's Hospital, 201 Townbush Road, Private Bag X9001, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
Aida TeferaEpidemiology Unit, KZN Department of Health, Natalia 330 Langalibalele (Longmarket) Street Pietermaritzburg 3201, P/Bag X9051, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
Elizabeth LutgeEpidemiology Unit, KZN Department of Health, Natalia 330 Langalibalele (Longmarket) Street Pietermaritzburg 3201, P/Bag X9051, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
Damian ClarkeDepartment of Surgery, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospitals Complex, Grey's Hospital, 201 Townbush Road, Private Bag X9001, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa. nirusha.maharaj@kznhealth.gov.za.
Edendale Hospital · ZAGrey's Hospital · ZAUmkhuseli Innovation and Research Management · ZAUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFrequently, surgical intervention is needed to treat soft tissue sepsis (STS). Ideally, most STS should be managed at the lowest level of surgical care close to the patient's home and a well-functioning surgical service will be able to deliver this safely and effectively. This study interrogates the burden of STS in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and reviews at which level in the health system the operative management of STS is being dealt with.

methodsThis study describes the operations for soft tissue sepsis conducted at all regional and tertiary hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal province for the period of 1 July to 31 December 2015. All procedures for soft tissue sepsis were identified for closer review.

resultsBetween 1 June and 31 December 2015, a total 6302 soft tissue-related procedures were performed in the regional and tertiary hospitals of KZN. The breakdown by anatomical region was as follows, 618 (9.8%) head and neck surgeries, 895 (14.2%) chest and back, 277 (4.4%) abdominal wall, 818 (13%) pelvis/perineal/buttock and 3070 (48.7%) extremity-related surgeries. There were a further 815 (12.9%) soft tissue-related procedures where the anatomical region was unspecified. Of the soft tissue procedures, 3943 (62.6%) were for the management of soft tissue sepsis. The anatomical regions involved included 316 (8%) head and neck, 485 (12.3%) chest and back, 194 (4.9%) abdominal wall, 589 (14.9%) pelvic, perineal and buttock, 2054 (52.1%) extremity and 365 unspecified operations. Peri-anal sepsis contributed 315 (8%), breast sepsis contributed to 372 (9.4%) of all soft tissue sepsis and amputations of extremities 658 (16.7%) of septic soft tissue procedures.

conclusionThere is a significant burden of soft tissue sepsis requiring surgical treatment each month at regional and tertiary hospitals in KZN. This is made up of breast sepsis, peri-anal sepsis and diabetic foot sepsis. This burden is being managed at an inappropriate level of care.

Indexed as

Health Services AccessibilityGeneral SurgeryGeographyHealth Services ResearchHumansSepsisSouth AfricaTertiary Care Centers

Identifiers

PMID32409865
OpenAlexW3024932964

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.