High Body Mass Index is Associated With Increased Risk of Complications After Emergency Ventral Hernia Repair.

Introduction: Emergency general surgery is a risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Patients with obesity are at greater risk for complications following ventral hernia repair (VHR). Our study aimed to determine the association of obesity with postoperative outcomes in patients requiring emergency VHR.

Accessibility of Level III trauma centers for underserved populations: A cross-sectional study.

Background: By providing definitive care for many, and rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, and transfer to Level I/II centers when needed, Level III trauma centers can augment capacity in high resource regions and extend the geographic reach to lower resource regions. We sought to (1) characterize populations served principally by Level III trauma centers, (2) estimate differences in time to care by trauma center level, and (3) update national estimates of trauma center access.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study (United States, 2019), we estimated travel time from census block groups to the nearest Level I/II trauma center and nearest Level III trauma center.

The Effect and Feasibility of mHealth-Supported Surgical Site Infection Diagnosis by Community Health Workers After Cesarean Section in Rural Rwanda: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The development of a surgical site infection (SSI) after cesarean section (c-section) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, including Rwanda. Rwanda relies on a robust community health worker (CHW)-led, home-based paradigm for delivering follow-up care for women after childbirth. However, this program does not currently include postoperative care for women after c-section, such as SSI screenings.

Does community-based health insurance protect women from financial catastrophe after cesarean section? A prospective study from a rural hospital in Rwanda.

Background: The implementation of community-based health insurance in (CBHI) in Rwanda has reduced out of pocket (OOP) spending for the > 79% of citizens who enroll in it but the effect for surgical patients is not well described. For all but the poorest citizens who are completely subsidized, the OOP (out of pocket) payment at time of service is 10%. However, 55.