The Effect of Conflict on Obstetric and Non-Obstetric Surgical Needs and Operative Mortality in Fragile States.

Background: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides surgical care in fragile states, which are more vulnerable to conflict. The primary objective of this study was to compare the indications for operative intervention in surgical projects in fragile states during periods of active conflict (CON) and non-conflict (NON-CON). In addition, risk factors for non-obstetric and obstetric operative mortality were identified.

Care of surgical infections by Médecins Sans Frontières Operations Centre Brussels in 2008-14.

Background: Surgical infections represent a substantial yet undefined burden of disease in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides surgical care in LMICs and collects data useful to describe the operative epidemiology of surgical need that would otherwise be unmet by national health services. We aimed to describe the experience of MSF Operations Centre Brussels surgery for infections during crisis; aid effective resource allocation; prepare humanitarian surgical staff; and further characterise unmet surgical needs in LMICs.

Surgery for Conditions of Infectious Etiology in Resource-Limited Countries Affected by Crisis: The Médecins Sans Frontières Operations Centre Brussels Experience.

Background: Surgery for infection represents a substantial, although undefined, disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Médecins Sans Frontières-Operations Centre Brussels (MSF-OCB) provides surgical care in LMICs and collects data useful for describing operative epidemiology of surgical need otherwise unmet by national health services. This study aimed to describe the experience of MSF-OCB operations for infections in LMICs.

Operative trauma in low-resource settings: The experience of Médecins Sans Frontières in environments of conflict, postconflict, and disaster.

Background: Conflicts and disasters remain prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, and injury remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe the operative procedures performed for injury-related pathologies at facilities supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to guide the planning of future responses.

Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of all MSF procedures performed between July 2008 and June 2014 for injury-related indications was completed.