From now on Lvov In-Patient Children Hospital will have the latest medical equipment – an anaesthetic machine and patient monitors.

The Swedish anaesthesia machine of UAH 70,000, a surgical and resuscitation monitor as well as two pulse oximeters have been presented by Foundation for Development of Ukraine to mark 15th anniversary of the hospital. The only in Western Ukraine Center for Mini-Invasion Surgeries for Children with Urology Pathology has been launched here this year. An anaesthesia facility and surgical and resuscitation monitor are needed for general anesthesia on children (even newborns). Head of Surgery and Anesthesiology Department of the hospital Vladimir Relin shares details.
 

-- Mr Relin, what makes the presented devices better than those you have in the hospital?
 
-- They are more reliable compared to traditional anaesthetic devices used by our doctors. The equipment has been in the market for long and has shown its advantage. For example, we got advice of our colleagues from Kiev Institute of Children Cardiology, which have been using the facilities for several years. They are satisfied. We will apply the anaesthetic machine to ensure modern surgical treatment for children of different age. The equipment we use today has outdated. The oldest machine we have was produced 15 years ago. It is obsolete and worn out.

 
-- What is the operation life of this medical equipment?
 
-- It can be different. Although medical facilities are checked carefully every year, they can break any time. The new device will start replacement of old anaesthetic machines. By the way, we expect another device to be bought by the city council budget.

 
-- What is the function of the surgical and resuscitation monitor and pulse oximeters presented by the Foundation?
 
-- A surgical and resuscitation monitor helps a doctor to check the patient during an operation on a display. The device shows oxygen level in blood, cardioscopy (heartbeat), pulse rate, and noninvasive blood pressure check. Pulse oximeters show oxygen level in blood and heartbeat rate online. They have worn out and need replacement. We will use cardiosurgery monitor for seriously ill patients and pulse oximeters for less difficult and short operations. No operation even an easy surgery is performed in Europe and the US without a surgical and resuscitation monitor let alone a pulse oximeter.
 

-- But hasn't the hospital had this equipment until today?
 
-- Well, we have. But regrettably just two pulse oximeters and one surgical and resuscitation monitor in the intensive care unit for newborns. Now we will have two patient monitors and four pulse oximeters. It is too little obviously as we perform 2,000 operations annually. The hospital has seven surgery rooms and each must be equipped with a surgical and resuscitation monitor and a pulse oximeter.

By Valentina Shurin
Ukrayna I Chas
06 March, 2008