Bellwether Procedures for Monitoring and Planning Essential Surgical Care in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: Caesarean Delivery, Laparotomy, and Treatment of Open Fractures

Abstract

Caesarean delivery, laparotomy, and treatment of open fractures should be standard procedures performed at first-level hospitals. With further validation in other populations, local managers and health ministries may find this useful as a benchmark for what first-level hospitals can and should be able to perform on a 24/7 basis in order to ensure delivery of emergency and essential surgical care to their population. Those procedures which did not correlate with the bellwether procedures can be referred to a specialized centre or collected for treatment by a visiting specialist team.