Sedation during dressing change – a major improvement in Burn Care

Adequate burns treatment will often require proper sedation for dressing change. Unfortunately too many patients have undergone painful procedures due to lack of equipment and personnel.

In June 2022 our Burn Unit at MCM was finally able to address this problem. We now have a fully functioning Procedure Room in our unit where all dressing changes take place. An adjacent room works as a recovery room for the patients that undergo sedation. The Procedure Room is equipped with an anesthesia machine, and as of July 2023 we have an experienced nurse anesthetist working full time with us.

These latest advances can only be described as a major shift in proper medical care for burn victims. Children, their attendants and not at least the Burn Unit staff have expressed a huge improvement and satisfaction with the overall working situation. The fact that anaesthesia can be provided for patients within the Burn Unit itself, is a major change from the time children with extensive burns had to wait for an available table at the main Operating Theatre of the hospital. The professional staff is now close to the patients and enjoy a far better utilization of working time. Another great benefit from these latest improvements is that children who previously often had to wait long hours fasting, waiting for anaesthesia in the main Operating Theatre, get far better nutritional support as the routines and logistics have dramatically improved.

 

Anesthesia development at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Tanzania

In 2024 CBWCF will take on new challenges as anesthesia development will be part of the Charity`s objectives. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), situated just north of Moshi center, has a busy anesthesia department. Norwegian health personell has been invited by the leadership at KCMC to take part in strengthening the anesthesia services at KCMC. CBWCF will support this initiative.

This story will be updated