Delivery of anoxic gas mixtures in anaesthesia: case report and review of the struggle towards safer standards of care

Challenges of Anesthetic Monitoring in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Availability of Equipment in Major Referral Hospitals in Kenya

BACKGROUND

Anesthetic monitoring within standards defined by various professional anesthesia organizations has been shown to reduce perioperative mortality. Given the scarce resources for anesthesia and surgery in low- to middle-income countries, we sought to determine the availability of recommended monitoring devices in major referral hospitals in Kenya.

METHODS

We purposely selected the 16 major referral hospitals in Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 103 operating theaters, 96 postanesthesia care unit (PACU) beds, and 16 areas where procedural sedation was routinely administered. A checklist questionnaire based on the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) guidelines of 2015 was used to determine the availability of basic and functional monitoring devices.

RESULTS

We determined that only 1 of 16 (6.25%) hospitals had all the monitoring devices recommended by the AAGBI. Automated noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitoring and pulse oximetry were present in all operating theaters. Continuous electrocardiography (ECG) was available in 102 of 103 (99%) operating theaters, skin temperature monitoring probes in 73 of 103 (70.9%), and capnography in 49 (47.6%). A nerve stimulator was accessible in 5 of 16 (31.25%) hospitals. There were functional patient monitors in all operating theaters (100%). One of the regional referral hospitals did not have a PACU. We encountered 9 of 96 (9.4%) PACU beds without any monitoring devices. Pulse oximetry was the most common device (84.4%) in the PACU beds equipped with monitoring. In 5 of 16 (31.25%) procedural sedation areas, pulse oximetry was the only monitoring device, whereas there were no devices in 2 of 16 (12.5%) areas. Portable multiparameter devices used for patient transport were present in 5 of 16 (31.25%) hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

The availability of recommended monitoring devices in major referral hospitals in Kenya is inadequate. Thus, there are challenges to anesthetic monitoring in these hospitals, and perioperative patient safety is jeopardized. We recommend the universal provision of basic monitoring devices and suggest the use of the data collected in this study to affect policy change and safe anesthesia practice in our country.

Failures of the Oxygen Supply

Oxygen supply failures are potentially life-threatening and are often associated with death or brain damage. Knowledge of how oxygen is supplied is essential for understanding how failures are caused and their management. Even though safety mechanisms exist to reduce the likelihood of a supply failure, events still occur. Simulation studies have identified knowledge and performance gaps in management of supply failures. A straightforward approach to immediate management of these critical events is provided.