Anaesthesia in The Gambia

Area of Science:

• Medical Sciences
• Public Health
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• The development of anesthesia services in The Gambia between 1977 and 1992 is examined.
• The crucial role of nurse anesthetists in delivering anesthesia care is highlighted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of anesthesia services in The Gambia during a specific period.
• To assess the contribution and limitations of nurse anesthetists in anesthesia provision.
• To identify challenges and propose future directions for anesthesiology in The Gambia.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of anesthesia services provided at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul.
• Analysis of anesthesia case distribution across different surgical specialties.
• Evaluation of the types of procedures managed by nurse anesthetists versus physician anesthetists.

Main Results:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology (O & G) procedures constituted 58.3% of anesthesia services.
• General surgical and dental procedures accounted for 38.06%, with Ophthalmology at 3.164%.
• Nurse anesthetists administered anesthesia for 94.4% of O & G procedures with minimal complications, while physician anesthetists were required for 65.6% of general surgical/dental cases.

Conclusions:

• Nurse anesthetists played a vital role, particularly in O & G anesthesia.
• The need for physician anesthetist expertise in more complex surgical and dental procedures was evident.
• Key challenges in anesthetic service delivery were identified, with recommendations for future development.