Timely and safe elective health care facilitates return to normal activities for patients and prevents emergency admissions. Surgery is a cornerstone of elective care and relies on complex pathways. This study aimed to take a whole-system approach to evaluating access to and quality of elective health care globally, using inguinal hernia as a tracer condition. This was a prospective, international, cohort study conducted between Jan 30 and May 21, 2023, in which any hospital performing inguinal hernia repairs was eligible to take part. Consecutive patients of any age undergoing primary inguinal hernia repair were included. A measurement set mapped to the attributes of WHO's Health System Building Blocks was defined to evaluate access (emergency surgery rates, bowel resection rates, and waiting times) and quality (mesh use, day-case rates, and postoperative complications). These were compared across World Bank income groups (high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income countries), adjusted for hospital and country. Factors associated with postoperative complications were explored with a three-level multilevel logistic regression model. 18 058 patients from 640 hospitals in 83 countries were included, of whom 1287 (7·1%) underwent emergency surgery. Emergency surgery rates increased from high-income to low-income countries (6·8%, 9·7%, 11·4%, 14·2%), accompanied by an increase in bowel resection rates (1·2%, 1·4%, 2·3%, 4·2%). Overall waiting times for elective surgery were similar around the world (median 8·0 months from symptoms to surgery), largely because of delays between symptom onset and diagnosis rather than waiting for treatment. In 14 768 elective operations in adults, mesh use decreased from high-income to low-income countries (97·6%, 94·3%, 80·6%, 61·0%). In patients eligible for day-case surgery (n=12 658), day-case rates were low and variable (50·0%, 38·0%, 42·1%, 44·5%). Complications occurred in 2415 (13·4%) of 18 018 patients and were more common after emergency surgery (adjusted odds ratio 2·06, 95% CI 1·72-2·46) and bowel resection (1·85, 1·31-2·63), and less common after day-case surgery (0·39, 0·34-0·44). This study demonstrates that elective health care is essential to preventing over-reliance on emergency systems. We identified actionable targets for system strengthening: clear referral pathways and increasing mesh repair in lower-income settings, and boosting day-case surgery in all income settings. These measures might strengthen non-surgical pathways too, reducing the burden on society and health services. NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery and Portuguese Hernia and Abdominal Wall Society (Sociedade Portuguesa de Hernia e Parede Abdominal).

Purpose: Rapid weight loss that often occurs after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been linked to an increased risk of gallstone formation. This study aimed to investigate whether ursodeoxycholic acid could be an effective alternative treatment for gallstone dissolution, potentially offering a nonsurgical option for patients requiring gallstone removal. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 88 patients who underwent LSG and subsequently developed gallstones between 2017 and 2023. Fifty-one patients who received UDCA treatment were compared to 37 patients who did not receive UDCA. Demographic and clinical characteristics and gallstone dissolution rates were analyzed using SPSS v25.0. Results: Gallstones dissolved in 60% of patients who received UDCA treatment, and symptoms such as dyspepsia decreased. A stone diameter of less than 5 mm was associated with a higher treatment success rate. The number of hospitalizations and admissions due to gallstone symptoms has decreased. The side effects were mild and did not require treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: UDCA treatment is an effective option for the resolution of gallstones after LSG. However, surgery may be more appropriate for treating larger stones. The results of this study suggest that UDCA is an effective intervention for reducing gallstone-related complications following LSG.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor originating from the gastrointestinal tract and have a broad spectrum of clinicopathological features affecting disease management regarding the treatment modalities. Methods: A retrospective study of 49 patients who underwent surgery for gastrointestinal tumors between 2008 and 2016 was conducted. Clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical features of patients with and without recurrence were statistically analyzed.Results: Twenty-nine (59.1%) patients had gastric; 16 (32.6%) had small intestinal; 3 (6.1%) had mesenteric; and 1 (2.2%) had rectal GISTs. Microscopic tumor necrosis and tumor ulceration were also significant for disease recurrence (P = 0.005, P = 0.049). High-risk patients according to Miettinen’s risk classification were more likely to develop a recurrence (P < 0.001). Additionally, high-grade tumors were also a risk factor for recurrence (P < 0.001). Ki-67 levels were available in 40 patients and the mean Ki-67 level was 16.8 in patients with recurrence, which was a significant risk factor in regression analysis (HR: 1.24, 95%, CI: 1.08-1-43). Five-year disease-free survival rates of non-gastric and gastric GISTs were 62.3% and 90%, respectively (P = 0.044).Conclusion: Larger tumors and higher mitotic rates are more likely to develop recurrence. High Ki-67 levels were also associated with recurrence.