Operating safely in an underdeveloped country.
The visiting surgical team doing cleft lip and cleft palate repair in an underdeveloped country may find long hours and adverse conditions. Some of the trips are undertaken for resident education. It is the responsibility of the expedition leader to implement safety precautions for protection of both the patients and the volunteers in the operative party as suggested in this article. Equipment maintenance and modified sterilization techniques are also described.
Smoot
E C
EC
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9230.
Johnson
M
M
Graham
D R
DR
Draper
G A
GA
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008493:Medical Missions; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010820:Physicians; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012449:Safety; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D014838:Volunteers