Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-11-2018
Abstract
Accessibility to health care, especially complex surgical care, represents one of the major health care disparities in developing countries. While surgical teams may be willing to travel to these areas to help address these needs, there are many logistical and ethical dilemmas inherent in this pursuit. We reviewed our approach to the establishment of the team-based surgical outreach program, wherein we perform head and neck free tissue transfer surgery in Haiti. We describe the challenges encountered in the delivery of surgical care as well as ethical dilemmas relevant to surgical outreach trips, highlighting an approach reliant on strong local cooperation. Despite the obstacles in place, our experience shows that free flap surgery can be successfully and ethically performed in these areas of great need.
Recommended Citation
Swendseid, MD, Brian; Tassone, MD, Patrick; Gilles, MD, Patrick Jean; Pavrette, MD, Magda; Stewart, Matthew; Batatope, Mercy; Weed, MD, Donald; Cognetti, MD, David; Luginbuhl, MD, Adam J.; and Curry, MD, Joseph, "Taking Free Flap Surgery Abroad: A Collaborative Approach to a Complex Surgical Problem." (2018). Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers. Paper 41.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/otofp/41
PubMed ID
30526295
Language
English
Comments
This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, December 2018.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599818818459. Copyright © American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation