ABSTRACT
A comparison is made between oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators as sources for clinical use. Oxygen cylinders are in widespread use, but costs and logistic factors favour the use of concentrators in many developing country situations, especially where cylinder supplies fail to penetrate.
Subject(s)
Developing Countries/economics , Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/economics , Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/instrumentation , Respiration Disorders/economics , Child , Equipment Design , Humans , Respiration Disorders/therapyABSTRACT
Many anaesthetists in small hospitals and developing countries have poor access to educational materials. The use of electronic means of publication and distribution, combined with the concepts of distance learning, can lead to better levels of knowledge and clinical practice. A project based on these principles has been set up in Zimbabwe, and is proving helpful to both trainers and trainees. All District Hospitals have been visited, and trainees in them identified. A survey has been completed to identify the subject areas in which training is most necessary. Trainees have been provided with reference materials on CD-ROM which they can access by computer (each hospital has a computer). Specialist anaesthesiologists in the country are producing interactive tutorials which can be sent out by e-mail to every hospital, and these are backed up by a programme of regular visits, seminars and clinical teaching. The programme is proving helpful to both trainees and tutors, and has the potential to be used in the future in other developing countries.
Subject(s)
Anesthesiology/education , Computer-Assisted Instruction , Developing Countries , Internet , Periodicals as Topic , Publishing , CD-ROM , Humans , Inservice Training , International Educational Exchange , ZimbabweABSTRACT
Jet mixing devices ("Venturi" devices) can be used in conjunction with domiciliary oxygen concentrators and provide delivered oxygen concentrations similar to those obtained with medical oxygen, though with the devices delivering higher concentrations (above 30% oxygen) the total flow is substantially reduced. A jet mixing device driven by a domiciliary concentrator would be valuable in various circumstances, especially in developing countries and also for infants and for patients with upper respiratory tract infections who are breathing through the mouth.
Subject(s)
Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/instrumentation , Oxygen/administration & dosage , Equipment Design , Humans , RheologySubject(s)
Developing Countries , Oxygen/supply & distribution , Costs and Cost Analysis , Gases , Humans , Papua New Guinea , PressureSubject(s)
Anesthesia/adverse effects , Hemoglobinopathies/surgery , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Anemia, Sickle Cell/surgery , Hemoglobin C Disease/surgery , Hemoglobinopathies/diagnosis , Humans , Hypoxia/prevention & control , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Postoperative PeriodABSTRACT
A technique of general anaesthesia using small doses of intravenous ketamine and thiopentone is described. The method provides satisfactory operating conditions combined with cardiovascular stability and an apparently safe airway at little more than half the cost of a comparable technique using ketamine alone.
