50th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting

Local Anesthetic Toxicity Awareness in Tertiary Hospitals in Kigali, Rwanda

•According to the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists 2015-2016 study, there are 31 physician anesthesiologists and 445 non-physician anesthetists (NPAs) in all of Rwanda (population = 13 million people)

•Most of the anesthesia care in Rwanda, particularly in rural areas, is performed independently by non-physician anesthetists

•Regional anesthesia - local infiltration, neuraxial, and peripheral nerve blocks are frequently performed as a sole anesthetic

•Incidence of LAST in Rwanda unknown

•There are not enough lipid emulsion available in tertiary hospitals in Rwanda

•LAST can be lethal

•Lipid emulsions have a short shelf life andare expensive – who will pay for it?

•Hospitals cannot rely on intermittent donations of small amounts of lipidemulsions

•Ethical dilemma knowing not enough lipid emulsion available while performing regional anesthesia

•While simulation can help to increaseawareness of LAST, additional educationalmeasures must be taken to improve knowledge retention

•While lipid emulsion is not easily available, prevention of LAST is key first line defense

50th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting

LOCAL ANESTHETIC TOXICITY AWARENESS IN TERTIARY HOSPITALS IN KIGALI, RWANDA

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