Print Email Facebook Twitter Availability, procurement, training, usage, maintenance and complications of electrosurgical units and laparoscopic equipment in 12 African countries Title Availability, procurement, training, usage, maintenance and complications of electrosurgical units and laparoscopic equipment in 12 African countries Author Oosting, R.M. (TU Delft Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology) Wauben, L.S.G.L. (TU Delft Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology; Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) Madete, J.K. (Kenyatta University) Groen, R.S. (Johns Hopkins University) Dankelman, J. (TU Delft Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology) Date 2020 Abstract BackgroundStrategies are needed to increase the availability of surgical equipment in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). This study was undertaken to explore the current availability, procurement, training, usage, maintenance and complications encountered during use of electrosurgical units (ESUs) and laparoscopic equipment.MethodsA survey was conducted among surgeons attending the annual meeting of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) in December 2017 and the annual meeting of the Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK) in March 2018. Biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) were surveyed and maintenance records collected in Kenya between February and March 2018.ResultsAmong 80 participants, there were 59 surgeons from 12 African countries and 21 BMETs from Kenya. Thirty‐six maintenance records were collected. ESUs were available for all COSECSA and SSK surgeons, but only 49 per cent (29 of 59) had access to working laparoscopic equipment. Reuse of disposable ESU accessories and difficulties obtaining carbon dioxide were identified. More than three‐quarters of surgeons (79 per cent) indicated that maintenance of ESUs was available, but only 59 per cent (16 of 27) confirmed maintenance of laparoscopic equipment at their centre.ConclusionDespite the availability of surgical equipment, significant gaps in access to maintenance were apparent in these LMICs, limiting implementation of open and laparoscopic surgery. Subject OA-Fund TU Delft To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:78662b7f-7777-469c-8178-d2997b32a2e3 DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs5.50255 ISSN 2474-9842 Source BJS Open, 4 (2), 326-331 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2020 R.M. Oosting, L.S.G.L. Wauben, J.K. Madete, R.S. Groen, J. Dankelman Files PDF bjs5.50255.pdf 331.72 KB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:78662b7f-7777-469c-8178-d2997b32a2e3/datastream/OBJ/view