First experience in laparoscopic surgery in low and middle income countries: A systematic review

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Ref.	Country	Year published	Study duration	Specialty	Study design	No. cases
Bendinelli et al[5]	Senegal	2002	5 years	Various	Retrospective	826
Parkar et al[6]	Kenya	2003	2 years	Gynae and general	Retrospective	408
Patel et al[7]	Kenya	2003	6 years	General	Case series	106
Raiga et al[8]	Cameroon	1999	4 years	Gynae	Retrospective	735
Arung et al[9]	Democratic Republic of Congo	2015	10 months	General	Prospective	75
Adisa et al[10]	Nigeria	2013	2 years	General	Retrospective	175
Ray-Offor et al[11]	Nigeria	2014	17 months	General and paediatric	Prospective	15
Onoh et al[12]	Nigeria	2018	2 years	Gynae	Prospective	36
Ishaq et al[13]	Pakistan	2016	31 months	Paediatric	Retrospective	100
Ismaila et al[14]	Nigeria	2013	12 months	General	Prospective	21

Table 2 Commonly reported challenges for the introduction of laparoscopic surgery

Ref.	Training	Costs	Equipment	Others
Bendinelli et al[5]		Y	Y
Parkar et al[6]	Y		Y
Patel et al[7]	Y			Y
Raiga et al[8]	Y	Y
Arung et al[9]	Y	Y	Y
Adisa et al[10]		Y	Y
Ray-Offor et al[11]	Y	Y	Y	Y
Onoh et al[12]	Y	Y	Y	Y
Ishaq et al[13]	Y
Ismaila et al[14]	Y		Y	Y

Y: Yes. Challenges were reported in the literature.