Ethiopia's first minimally invasive surgery program: A novel approach in global surgical education.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Complex lung diseases are among the leading causes of death in Ethiopia. Access to thoracic surgery is limited, and before 2016 no thoracic surgeons were trained in minimally invasive surgery. A global academic partnership was formed between the University of Toronto and Addis Ababa University. We describe implementation of the first minimally invasive surgery training program in sub-Sahara Africa and evaluate its safety.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of open versus minimally invasive thoracic and upper gastrointestinal procedures performed at Addis Ababa University from January 2016 to June 2021. Baseline demographic, diagnostic, operative, and postoperative outcomes including length of stay and complications were compared.

Results

In

SUBMITTER: Bondzi-Simpson A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10091276 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature