The East–Freeman Automatic Vent: An interesting footnote in the history of mechanical ventilation

An example of the East–Freeman Automatic Vent from Oxford was found in the early anaesthesia equipment collection at St George Hospital, Sydney. It weighs less than 200 g and is representative of a group of miniature ventilators that were described in the 1960s, including the Minivent from South Africa and the Microvent from Canada. All relied on a pressure-operated inflating valve that was described in 1966 by Mitchell and Epstein from Oxford. The ventilators were compact, portable and were powered by the gas supply from the anaesthesia machine or other driving source that distended a reservoir bag. The main problem was that they could stick in the inspiratory phase. This led to pressure in the lungs rising towards the driving pressure. There was a risk of barotrauma to the patient if the system was not promptly disconnected. While theyhad provided an alternative to hand bagging, they were superseded, as more sophisticated and safer ventilators became widely available.

Anaesthesia Equipment and Utilities

The chapter covers anaesthetic equipment that may not be familiar to anaesthetists practising in high-resource settings. Primarily this means draw-over anaesthesia equipment—recognition, set-up, usage in adults and children, and practical tips. How to maintain your equipment yourself so that it continues to function safely is covered. The chapter also considers the two basic utilities of anaesthetic practice that are often taken for granted in high-resource settings—oxygen and electricity—and how to cope with an unpredictable supply of both. Hygiene and sterilization, a responsibility that often falls to the medical team in resource-poor settings, is also covered with practical advice on how to do it yourself.

Defence Anaesthesia transition from the Tri-Service Anaesthetic Apparatus to the Diamedica Portable Anaesthesia Machine 02

Defence Anaesthesia is changing its draw-over anaesthetic capability from the Tri-Service Anaesthetic Apparatus (TSAA) to the Diamedica Portable Anaesthesia Machine 02 (DPA02). The DPA02 will provide a portable, robust, lightweight and simple method for delivering draw-over volatile anaesthesia with the option of positive pressure ventilation through manual or mechanical operation for paediatric and adult patients. The UK Defence Medical Services uses a modified configuration of the DPA02; this paper seeks to explain the rationale for the differing configurations and illustrates alternative assemblies to support integration with other Defence Anaesthesia equipment. High-fidelity simulation training using the DPA02 will continue to be delivered on the Defence Anaesthesia Simulation Course (DASC). Conformité Européenne accreditation of DPA02 supports future UK live patient training in centres of excellence supervised by subject matter experts; this was not possible with the TSAA. This article is intended to be a key reference for all members of the Defence Anaesthesia team. Alongside other resources, it will be given as precourse learning prior to attending the DASC and the Military Operational Surgical Training. This article will also be issued with all Defence DPA02 units, supporting ease of access for review during future clinical exercises (including validation), prior to supervised live training and on operational deployments.

Caesarean section provision and readiness in Tanzania: analysis of cross-sectional surveys of women and health facilities over time

ObjectivesTo describe trends in caesarean sections and facilities performing caesareans over time in Tanzania and examine the readiness of such facilities in terms of infrastructure, equipment and staffing.DesignNationally representative, repeated cross-sectional surveys of women and health facilities.SettingTanzania.ParticipantsWomen of reproductive age and health facility staff.Main outcome measuresPopulation-based caesarean rate, absolute annual number of caesareans, percentage of facilities reporting to perform caesareans and three readiness indicators for safe caesarean care: availability of consistent electricity, 24 hour schedule for caesarean and anaesthesia providers, and availability of all general anaesthesia equipment.ResultsThe caesarean rate in Tanzania increased threefold from 2% in 1996 to 6% in 2015–16, while the total number of births increased by 60%. As a result, the absolute number of caesareans increased almost fivefold to 120 000 caesareans per year. The main mechanism sustaining the increase in caesareans was the doubling of median caesarean volume among public hospitals, from 17 caesareans per month in 2006 to 35 in 2014–15. The number of facilities performing caesareans increased only modestly over the same period. Less than half (43%) of caesareans in Tanzania in 2014–15 were performed in facilities meeting the three readiness indicators. Consistent electricity was widely available, and 24 hour schedules for caesarean and (less systematically) anaesthesia providers were observed in most facilities; however, the availability of all general anaesthesia equipment was the least commonly reported indicator, present in only 44% of all facilities (34% of public hospitals).ConclusionsGiven the rising trend in numbers of caesareans, urgent improvements in the availability of general anaesthesia equipment and trained anaesthesia staff should be made to ensure the safety of caesareans. Initial efforts should focus on improving anaesthesia provision in public and faith-based organisation hospitals, which together perform more than 90% of all caesareans in Tanzania.