Anaesthetic equipment in low- and low-to-middle-income countries. Issue 8 (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adams, Claire E.; Dobson, Michael
• Is Part Of: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. Volume 23:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 487
• Page End: 490
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Delivery of healthcare -- durable medical equipment -- equipment and supplies -- hospital; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; Intensive care -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mpaic.2022.04.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-0299

Abstract

Abstract: There is a discrepancy between healthcare need and the ability to provide safe anaesthesia in low- and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs). There is a shortage of medically trained anaesthetists. Most anaesthetics are provided by non-physician anaesthetists who may not have studied the core sciences underpinning anaesthesia, but are clinically very competent. Poor infrastructure is common, such as a shortage of piped medical gases and critical care beds. Safe anaesthesia depends on effective technology, and on consumables such as cannulae, and drugs, all of which are under-provided resources in LMICs. Much of the equipment used in the developed world is unsuitable for use in LMICs. Anaesthetic equipment used in LMICs, such as draw-over breathing systems and oxygen concentrators, may be unfamiliar to developed world anaesthetists. Cleaning and maintenance of equipment is usually the responsibility of the anaesthetist, who needs a good understanding of how it works.