Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine.

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Background The Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high‐ (HICs) and low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Methods This was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7‐day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparing HICs with LMICs. Results A total of 44 814 patients were recruited from 474 hospitals in 27 countries (19 HICs and 8 LMICs). Some 7508 patients (16·8 per cent) experienced at least one postoperative complication, equivalent to 11 664 complications in total. Using the ISOS classification, 5504 of 11 664 complications (47·2 per cent) were graded as mild, 4244 (36·4 per cent) as moderate and 1916 (16·4 per cent) as severe. Using Clavien–Dindo, 6781 of 11 664 complications (58·1 per cent) were graded as I or II, 1740 (14·9 per cent) as III, 2408 (20·6 per cent) as IV and 735 (6·3 per cent) as V. Agreement between classification systems was poor overall (ICC 0·41, 95 per cent c.i. 0·20 to 0·55), and in LMICs (ICC 0·23, 0·05 to 0·38) and HICs (ICC 0·46, 0·25 to 0·59). Conclusion Caution is recommended when using a treatment approach to grade complications in global surgery studies, as this may introduce bias unintentionally.

Goltz syndrome or focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), is an X-linked dominant condition which predominantly involves the skin, limbs and eyes. In otolaryngology, FDH has been poorly described, but can result in increased symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea requiring surgery. There have also been documented cases of mixed severe hearing loss secondary to congenital ossicular anomalies. More frequently, patients present to the ear–nose–throat clinic with symptoms of dysphagia, secondary to papillomatosis. A 36-year-old woman presented with pain, irritation and dysphagia with a known diagnosis of FDH. She was subsequently investigated with an oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, Barium Swallow and an MRI neck scan with contrast. Lymphoid hyperplasia was found on investigation and the patient underwent a panendoscopy with CO2 laser to the lesion with good clinical outcome. This case report highlights the need for multidisciplinary team involvement to ensure full consideration of management options.