South African Paediatric Surgical Outcomes Study (SAPSOS) A South African National, Multi-centre Fourteen Day Evaluation of Patient Care and Clinical Outcomes for Paediatric Patients Undergoing Surgery

There are few data of paediatric peri-operative morbidity and mortality in South Africa. There is little information on the burden or profile of surgical disease in the paediatric population, the level of anaesthesia or surgical care (specialist versus non-specialist) for paediatric patients, the quality of peri-operative care or contributing factors to poor outcomes. In order to understand current paediatric peri-operative morbidity and mortality in South Africa, it is important to start obtaining these data. Risk factors can be identified and changes can be in implemented accordingly to improve future outcomes.

The study will take place over fourteen-days. It is a South African national multi-centre prospective cohort study of paediatric patients (<16 years) undergoing surgery. The SAPSOS study (as was the South African Surgical Outcomes Study (SASOS) study) will be based on the methodology of the European Surgical Outcomes Study (EuSOS).

This study has important public health implications for South Africa as surgery is now recognized internationally as an essential part of public health, yet still needs to be defined as a priority in South Africa. Policy-makers and healthcare providers need evidence to plan resource allocation in a way that will improve quality and outcomes. The data from SAPSOS and SASOS, would provide a platform for government and health care providers in South Africa to appropriately allocate funding, make policy decisions and plan future peri-operative healthcare in South Africa.