Effect of in‐hospital delays on surgical mortality for emergency general surgery conditions at a tertiary hospital in Malawi

摘要

BackgroundIn sub‐Saharan Africa, surgical access is limited by an inadequate surgical workforce, lack of infrastructure and decreased care‐seeking by patients. Delays in treatment can result from delayed presentation (pre‐hospital), delays in transfer (intrafacility) or after arrival at the treating centre (in‐hospital delay; IHD). This study evaluated the effect of IHD on mortality among patients undergoing emergency general surgery and identified factors associated with IHD.