title: Volunteers in plastic surgery guidelines for providing surgical care for children in the less developed world.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant need is met by volunteer groups who provide free reconstructive plastic surgery for underserved children in developing countries. However, at present there are no consistent guidelines for volunteer groups in plastic surgery seeking to provide high-quality and safe care.
  
  
  METHODS
  With these quality and safety standards in mind, in 2006, the Volunteers in Plastic Surgery Committee of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons/Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation undertook a project to develop a detailed set of guidelines for volunteer groups from developed countries seeking to provide plastic surgery services to children in developing countries. To make the guidelines include both surgical and anesthetic needs, they were developed in conjunction with the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Guidelines for the delivery of plastic surgery care by volunteer groups to developing countries have been reviewed and approved by the boards of both organizations (the American Society of Plastic Surgeons/Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia). These include guidelines for the initial site visit, site and patient selection, staff and equipment that should be available, and procedures that can be safely performed based on the site and available facilities. Guidelines for assessment of outcomes, dealing with adverse outcomes, and quality improvement are also provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Any plastic surgery group undertaking an international mission trip should be able to go to one source to find a detailed discussion of the perceived needs in providing high-quality, safe care for children. The present document was created to satisfy this need.
authors.affiliation: Knoxville, Tenn.; Charlottesville, Va.; Cleveland, Ohio; Minneapolis, Rochester, and Edina, Minn.; Austin, Texas; Spokane, Wash.; and Mountain View and Los Angeles, Calif. From Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center; the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System; the Department of Plastic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University; Abbott Northeastern Hospital; the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch at Austin; Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital; Interplast; the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Southern California; the Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; and the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Politis
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gosain
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Migliori
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cullington
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: D Scott
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Corlew
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wexler
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flick
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Van Beek
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014838:Volunteers