Elsevier

Gynecologic Oncology Reports

Volume 20, May 2017, Pages 100-102
Gynecologic Oncology Reports

Short communication
Laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): An area of need

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2017.03.016Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • Increasing surgical capacity in LMICs is imperative to improving global health and treatment of gynecologic cancers.

  • Laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic cancer in LMICs is limited and has added benefits specific to LMICs.

  • Barriers to implementing laparoscopic surgical techniques in LMICs should be identified and addressed.

Abstract

Over 90% of people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not have access to surgical care. In the absence of appropriate surgical care, there is high morbidity and mortality from surgically curable diseases, such as cervical cancer. Laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic cancer in LMICs is extremely limited. The benefits of laparoscopy over open surgery are even more pronounced in LMICs than in resource-rich countries. Barriers to implementation of laparoscopic surgery in LMICs should be identified and addressed in order to improve global cancer care and the lives of women worldwide.

Keywords

Laparoscopy
Low- and middle-income countries
Gynecologic malignancy

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