Assessing Pediatric Anesthesia Practices for Volunteer Medical Services Abroad

Abstract

Our study showed that in this setting it is feasible to track anesthesia practice patterns and adverse perioperative events. We identified issues for further examination.

Assessing unmet anaesthesia need in Sierra Leone: a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized, cross-sectional, countrywide survey

“…The factors limiting provision of this anaesthesia care are myriad and common throughout LMICs. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The re- cent Ebola epidemic, with the tragic loss of many vital providers has exacerbated these problems. In some LMICs 25 there are disproportionately fewer anaesthesia-providers than surgeons, making anaesthesia manpower the 'rate-limiting factor' in unmet surgi-cal need.…”

“…1 It is recognized that surgery and anaesthesia services in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) are un-der-equipped and under-staffed. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Most of this data comes from assessments of personnel, supplies and workload at institutions throughout the low resource world. It clearly demonstrates that surgical and anaesthesia services are unable to meet the current need, but gives no sense as to the true extent and nature of unmet need.…”

The Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Medical-Surgical Missions

“…Some travel in loosely organized groups; others work for organizations such as the Operation Smile, Orbis and Médecins sans Frontières, which have an ongoing presence in many countries. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Volunteers may focus on direct patient care, medical education, public health promotion or improvement of the health care infrastructure. Some groups are secular, whereas others are coordinated by religious organizations.…”

“…The use of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in these situations is practical and heretofore has not been reported in the literature. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The purpose of this paper is to relate a 6-year, short-term experience of utilizing FNAC during medical-surgical missions in the impoverished areas of the Philippines.…”

Ethical Issues of Medical Missions: The Clinicians’ View

“…Patient safety is a priority during the mission. Anesthesia care requires special attention (Fisher et al 2001). Operation Smile physicians and nurses are certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).…”