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.

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.

Local anaesthetic is a key tool for all dentists in achieving painless treatment. Many complications have been reported secondary to a dental local anaesthetic, however those pertaining to the orbit and ocular muscles have been infrequent. This article describes three incidents when inadvertent abducens nerve palsy secondary to a dental local anaesthetic occurred during removal of an upper wisdom tooth, resulting in paresis of the lateral rectus muscle and diplopia. The patients were reassured and managed conservatively and there were no long‐term complications. The anatomical course of the abducens nerve from its origin to the lateral rectus muscle are discussed as well as potential mechanisms for the dental local anaesthetic to impact upon the nerve. Finally, following input from Opthalmology colleagues, recommendations for appropriate management are made to ensure a good outcome.

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A 92-year-old, 41 kg female presented with a 4-day history of abdominal distension, intermittent lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and lack of bowel opening. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed multiple dilated small bowel loops, secondary to incarceration of the ileum in an obturator hernia (OH) on the right. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy with reduction of the OH. The small bowel was viable and no resection was required. OH is a rare but significant cause of small bowel obstruction, with a high mortality rate. Of all the imaging modalities reviewed, CT scan is highly effective in reducing diagnostic delay, and ultimately can reduce morbidity and mortality rates of patients presenting with an incarcerated OH.