title: A survey of South African endoscopic surgical practice.
abstract: To coincide with the first annual meeting of the South African Society of Endoscopic Surgeons (SASES), a postal survey of the endoscopic surgical practices of 98 registered specialist surgeons was undertaken. A response rate of 73.5% was achieved, and 94.5% of respondents had personally performed endoscopic surgical procedures. Cholecystectomy (4,557) was the most commonly performed endoscopic surgical procedure and was associated with a postoperative mortality rate of 0.13% and morbidity of 3.5%. Twelve bile duct injuries were reported (0.26%). In descending order of frequency, other procedures reported were diagnostic laparoscopy (1,404), dorsal sympathectomy (412), appendicectomy (396), inguinal hernia repair (146), anti-reflux procedures (83) and diagnostic thoracoscopy (51). No postoperative deaths were recorded and complication rates varied from zero for diagnostic thoracoscopy to 4.8% for inguinal hernia repair and anti-reflux procedures. The selected sample of South African surgeons canvassed appears to have adopted endoscopic surgical techniques with enthusiasm and with complication rates that compare favourably with those reported elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: South African Society of Endoscopic Surgeons, Tygerberg Hospital/University of Stellenbosch.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bornman
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D013019:South Africa; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires