Lai King Lauren, Cheema Baljit, van Hoving D J
Division of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Division of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Afr J Emerg Med. 2020 Dec;10(4):197-202. doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2020.06.008. Epub 2020 Jul 13.
Despite children representing a significant proportion of Emergency Unit (EU) attendances globally, it is concerning that many healthcare facilities are inadequately equipped to deliver paediatric resuscitation. The rapid availability of a full range of paediatric emergency equipment is critical for delivery of effective, best-practice resuscitation. This study aimed to describe the availability of essential, functional paediatric emergency resuscitation equipment on or close to the resuscitation trolley, in 24-hour EUs in Cape Town, South Africa.
A cross sectional study was conducted over a six-month period in government funded hospital EUs, providing 24-hour emergency paediatric care within the Cape Town Metropole. A standardised data collection sheet of essential resuscitation equipment expected to be available in the resuscitation area, was used. Items were considered to be available if at least one piece of equipment was present. Functionality of available equipment was defined as: equipment that hadn't expired, whose original packaging was not outwardly damaged or compromised and all components were present and intact.
Overall, a mean of 43% (30/69) of equipment was available on the resuscitation trolley across all hospitals. The overall mean availability of equipment in the resuscitation area was 49% (34/69) across all hospitals. Mean availability of functional equipment was 42% (29/69) overall, 41% (28/69) at district-level hospitals, and 45% (31/69) at regional/tertiary hospitals.
Essential resuscitation equipment for children is insufficiently available at district-level and higher hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole. This is a modifiable barrier to the provision of high-quality paediatric emergency care.
尽管在全球范围内，儿童占急诊室就诊人数的很大比例，但令人担忧的是，许多医疗机构在配备儿科复苏设备方面存在不足。快速提供全套儿科急救设备对于实施有效的最佳实践复苏至关重要。本研究旨在描述南非开普敦24小时急诊室复苏推车上或其附近基本的、可正常使用的儿科急救复苏设备的配备情况。
在开普敦都会区由政府资助的医院急诊室进行了为期六个月的横断面研究，这些急诊室提供24小时儿科急诊护理。使用了一份标准化的数据收集表，列出了复苏区域应配备的基本复苏设备。如果至少有一件设备存在，则认为该设备可用。可用设备的功能定义为：未过期、原包装外观未损坏或未受损且所有部件齐全且完好的设备。
总体而言，所有医院的复苏推车上平均有43%（30/69）的设备可用。所有医院复苏区域设备的总体平均可用率为49%（34/69）。功能正常的设备总体平均可用率为42%（29/69），区级医院为41%（28/69），区域/三级医院为45%（31/69）。
在开普敦都会区的区级及以上医院，儿童基本复苏设备供应不足。这是提供高质量儿科急诊护理的一个可改变的障碍。
