We are planning an Anesthesia Safety Workshop in Kenya preceding the international CANECSA anesthesia conference, with support from the non-profit Resurge International. The structure of our workshop will be as follows: our morning sessions will be focused on case-based discussions (PBLDs) covering common Resurge operations, such as cleft lip/palate and burns. These would be followed by afternoon rotations through smaller, interactive, hands-on workshops covering key practical skills, including:
-Advanced airway management (especially pediatric scenarios like laryngospasm)
-Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for line placement and regional
-Clinical decision-making using cognitive aids (eg, Stanford's Emergency Manuals)
-Vital Signs Directed Therapy protocols in the OR and PACU
The topics were chosen with input from the African anesthesia providers. These small group interactive teaching will enable the anesthesia providers to improve patient safety and improve perioperative outcomes.
This anesthesia safety workshop will train approximately 15 African anesthesia providers affiliated with ReSurge operation sites.
The countries the providers are from include: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi.
The project aims to improve perioperative patient outcomes at ReSurge global operating sites by enhancing anesthesia safety standards, reducing morbidity and mortality, and improving the quality of anesthesia care provided by local practitioners through targeted education.
We plan to record our sessions on Zoom to broaden our reach and help the attendees take the teaching home to their colleagues.
To the Doximity Foundation,
I am writing to express my gratitude for your support of my recent trip to Mombasa, Kenya, with ReSurge International. Your funding allowed me to contribute to a vital educational initiative that will have lasting impacts on patient care across the region. Below is a summary of the trip and our outcomes.
Mission Overview:
I had the privilege of joining a dedicated team to lead a 2-day Anesthesia Education Intensive in Mombasa. Our primary goal was to provide high-level, specialized training to elevate the standard of anesthesia care in resource-limited settings.
Participants and Reach:
The conference brought together a diverse cohort of 18 anesthesiology providers. The impact of this training extends far beyond Kenya, as these providers traveled from 7 different countries across Central and Eastern Africa. This regional diversity allowed for a rich exchange of ideas and ensured that the skills learned will be disseminated across a wide geographic area.
Curriculum and Activities:
Our team delivered a comprehensive curriculum designed to address critical needs in the region. The 2-day intensive combined didactic lectures with hands-on, small-group workshops to ensure practical skill acquisition. Key topics included:
- Anesthesia for Burn Reconstruction: Discussions of the complexities in managing anesthetics for patients with burn injuries.
- Difficult Airway Management: Hands-on practice with advanced airway devices and scenarios.
- Ultrasound-Guided Techniques: Practical training on the use of ultrasound for the application of regional anesthesia and vascular access.
- Various other essential topics relevant to perioperative care in the region
- We also focused on allowing participants to share their own experiences, discuss similarities and differences in their institutions’ practices and resources, and build connections.
Impact and Outcomes:
The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting both the quality of the instruction and the immediate applicability of the skills learned:
- Usefulness Rating: Participants rated the intensive an average of 9.94/10 regarding its usefulness and impact on their practice.
- Confidence: Post-conference surveys revealed that 100% of participants felt either "much more confident" or "somewhat more confident" in the management of burn patients and pediatric patients.
This trip was a success, directly empowering local providers with the skills and confidence to save lives and improve outcomes for vulnerable patient populations. Thank you again to the Doximity Foundation for making this possible.
Sincerely,
Kiley Lawrence
