Browsing by Author "Atumanya, Patience"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessment of the current capacity of intensive care units in Uganda; A descriptive study
    (Journal of Critical Care, 2020) Atumanya, Patience; Sendagire, Cornelius; Wabule, Agnes; Mukisa, John; Ssemogerere, Lameck; Kwizera, Arthur; Agaba, Peter K.
    Purpose: To describe the organizational characteristics of functional ICUs in Uganda. Methods: A descriptive survey of 12 ICUs in Uganda; ICU organisation, structure, staffing, and support facilities. A functional ICU was defined as one that admitted critically ill patients and had the ability to provide mechanical ventilation. ICUswere selected based on information of their existence. Direct structured interviewswere carried out with the ICU directors. Results: Of the fourteen ICUs reviewed, 12 were functional, and a majority were located in the central region. There were 55 ICU beds making up a ratio of 1.3 ICU beds per million population. The ICU beds comprised 1.5 % of the total bed capacity of studied hospitals. Most of the ICUs [11] were mixed (paediatric-adults), anaesthesia-led (nine) and five operated in a closed model. There were 171 ICU nurses, of whom 13 had formal training in critical care nursing. Themajority of the ICUs had a nurse to patient ratio ≥ 1.2; nine during the day and seven at night. Conclusions: This study shows limited accessibility to critical care services in Uganda.With a high variability in the ICU operational characteristics, there is a need for standardization of ICU care in the country.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Continuous Spinal Anesthesia following Inadvertent Dural Puncture during Epidural Placement for an Emergency Laparotomy
    (Journal of Public Health, 2021) Emyedu, Andrew; Kyoheirwe, Bernadette; Atumanya, Patience
    Emergency exploratory laparotomy conducted under continuous spinal anesthesia using a standard epidural set following an accidental dural puncture. Background and Objectives. Continuous spinal anesthesia is one of the least utilized regional anesthesia techniques globally. It could be an alternative anesthesia technique for abdominal and lower limb surgeries following an accidental dural puncture. 'e aim of this report was to describe a case in which continuous spinal anesthesia was successfully conducted for emergency exploratory laparotomy following an accidental dural puncture during epidural placement. Case Report. A 38-year-old male presented to our accident and emergency unit with a one-day history of colicky abdominal pain associated with constipation, abdominal distension, and vomiting. He was diagnosed with intestinal obstruction and underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy under continuous spinal anesthesia using a standard epidural set following an accidental dural puncture. Conclusion. 'is case demonstrates that in case of an accidental dural puncture during epidural placement, the catheter can be advanced into the intrathecal space and continuous spinal anesthesia conducted for abdominal surgeries using a standard epidural catheter.