Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Diversidad biológica y cultural del sur de la Amazonia colombiana

La gran cuenca amazónica compartida por Brasil, Colombia, Perú, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador y las tres Guyanas, contiene una de las mayores riquezas biológicas y culturales del planeta y es considerada parte de la seguridad ecológica global. Constituye el 45% de los bosques tropicales del mundo, es una de las áreas silvestres más extensas y de mayor reserva de agua dulce del planeta, su sistema hídrico es el mayor tributario de todos los océanos, alberga aún, cerca de 379 grupos étnicos y en cuanto a endemismo, no existe otra región que se le aproxime. En Colombia, la Amazonia a lo largo de la historia ha sufrido distintos procesos de intervención antrópica: la conquista; la colonización; el auge del caucho y la quina; la explotación maderera, petrolera; la implementación de cultivos de uso ilícito y de sistemas productivos no aptos a las condiciones del medio natural; entre otros, son procesos que han socavado tanto los recursos biológicos como los culturales. Conscientes de la problemática actual de la Amazonia así como de la importancia que reviste para el mundo y para el país, la Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Sur de la Amazonia –Corpoamazonia– y el Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt –IAvH-, firmaron en el año 2004 un convenio con el n de aunar esfuerzos para formular el plan de acción en biodiversidad en la región sur de la Amazonia colombiana (departamentos de Caquetá, Putumayo y Amazonas). El plan de acción, busca posicionar la biodiversidad en el desarrollo regional y contribuir a un mayor conocimiento y a unas mejores prácticas de conservación y utilización sostenible de los recursos biológicos y culturales de este importante espacio geográfico. Desarrolla a escala regional, la Política Nacional en Biodiversidad y la Propuesta Técnica de Plan de Acción Nacional en Biodiversidad – Biodiversidad siglo XXI -