Dressing Changes Under Sedation – A Major and Long-Awaited Advancement in Patient Care
Wound care can be extremely painful. For a long time, we were unable to sedate our patients to help them cope with the pain it caused. We lacked both equipment and personnel. June 2022 marked a turning point in that regard. Our department was equipped with a dedicated dressing room with the capacity to administer sedation. This requires both an anesthesia machine and qualified staff — and now we have everything in place. A recovery room is located right next door.
These advancements mean a great deal to patients, their families, and the staff. The team can now make much more effective use of their working hours. In addition, patients no longer have to fast for hours waiting for a slot in the operating theater for wound care procedures, and as a result, the overall nutritional status of our patients has significantly improved.
Further Development of Anesthesia Services at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Tanzania
CBWCF is taking on new challenges during 2024. Anesthesia will now also become one of the foundation’s focus areas, as surgery and anesthesia go hand in hand. Over several years, CBWCF has been involved in developing the surgical services for burn patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in northern Tanzania. The hospital has invited Norwegian anesthesia professionals to assist in advancing the field of anesthesiology.
At KCMC, both nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists are trained. Students come from all over the country, giving KCMC the opportunity to influence the development of anesthesia education on a national scale.
By the end of 2024, a Norwegian nurse anesthetist and a Norwegian anesthesiologist will be involved as volunteers in further developing the anesthesiology services at KCMC. The perspective is long-term. The aim is to contribute to general education with a strong focus on patient safety. As the overall level of professional competence increases, burn patients will also greatly benefit.
