Anaesthesia
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Good quality educational material for anaesthesia providers in the developing world is limited in both quantity and availability. Traditionally, textbooks have been the main source of information but these are frequently expensive, easily damaged and rapidly become outdated. Many first world texts concentrate on the use of expensive drugs for an increasingly complex range of patients and procedures, making them less suitable for practitioners in resource-poor locations. Improved access to broadband internet connections will increasingly be a major portal for the delivery of up to date educational material.
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The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) was formed in 1955 and is currently composed of 120 national societies. The aims of WFSA are to improve the standards of anaesthesia worldwide, with a particular emphasis in developing countries. This article details the structure of the WFSA, the various activities carried out by the different committees, and our achievements in education and training.
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Global Oximetry (GO) is an initiative launched recently in Uganda, India, the Philippines and Vietnam. The overall aims are to promote oximetry utilisation and reduce oximetry costs in lower income countries. Research objectives include studying the feasibility of cost reduction; overcoming non-cost barriers to global oximetry including issues of prioritization; education and guidelines; servicing and access to parts. Promotional objectives include creating new policy, influencing oximetry design, and setting new global standards for safer monitoring.
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The challenges of obstetric care in the developing world are enormous. Many fit young mothers die or suffer disabling birth injuries from preventable complications of pregnancy that are easily treated with basic facilities. ⋯ Access to Caesarean section is a particular problem, with rates lower than 1% being commonplace. The provision of appropriate anaesthesia services is of international concern.
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In modern anaesthesia practice, regional techniques are preferred to general anaesthesia for many types of surgery, particularly in obstetric care. Improved outcomes have been recorded in UK practice, but the techniques remain underutilised in many parts of the world. With encouragement, training and a regular supply of appropriate needles and local anaesthetic agents, the advantages of regional techniques in the developing world could be realised.