Summary Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03471494 . Findings Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit.

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Aim Case report regarding the repair of a complex incisional hernia, with loss of domain (LoD), where adjuvant techniques were used. Materials and methods Data from the patient's electronic chart and literature review. Results A 77-year-old female patient is referred for evaluation. She had a multi-recurrent incisional hernia, symptomatic with pain and recurrent episodes of intestinal occlusion. Clinical and imaging evaluation confirmed a complex incisional hernia with LoD, located in the left iliac and flank regions. Abdominal wall muscle blockade was done with botulinum toxin. A progressive pneumoperitoneum catheter was placed laparoscopically, and 11 liters of air were instilled over 13 days. Imaging showed lengthening of the AW muscles. Posterior component separation and transversus abdominis release was performed on the left side, and a retrorectus dissection the right side. A macroporous polypropylene mesh was attached on the left to the twelfth rib, psoas muscle, transverse process of lumbar vertebrae, iliac crest, Cooper's ligament and pubis, and on the right with transfascial sutures. A seroma developed on the post operative period. No other complications occurred. Discussion If a patient never had an AW reconstruction surgery, with a mesh on the retromuscular plane, this option should be offered, by a specialized hernia surgeon, regardless of the number of recurrences. Progressive pneumoperitoneum has existed for many years, but is seldom used. Likewise, botulinum toxin is emerging as a powerful tool to prepare AW reconstruction, but much is still unknow. Heterogeneity in the data is a hinderance to the wide adoption of these techniques.