[Anesthesia practice by nurse anesthetists in French speaking Sub-Saharan Africa].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the practice of anaesthesia in French-speaking subsaharian countries.


METHODS
Prospective survey.


METHODS
Two hundred seventeen nurse anaesthetists, from 11 different countries.


METHODS
Anonymous questionnaire.


RESULTS
One third of nurses were practising anaesthesia since less than five years and 1/3 since more than 10. Only 39 (18%) were working in the country side. Thirty seven (17%) had been trained outside subsaharian Africa (in Cuba 6%, France 5%, Morocco 5% and Germany 1% respectively). Two hundred thirteen (98%) were performing general anaesthesia and 169 (78%) regional anaesthesia. Hundred sixty eight (97%) used spinal anaesthesia, 57 (33%) epidural, 31 (18%) intravenous regional anaesthesia, 24 (14%) axillary block, 17 (10%) caudal block and 10 (6%) peripheral block respectively. For regional techniques, disposable devices were available in 50% of cases. For general anaesthesia, thiopental was administered by 193 (89%) and ketamine by 156 (72%) nurse anaesthetists respectively. In 50% of cases, these drugs were used alone. An ECG was available in 40%, a pulse oximeter in 14% and a capnographe in less than 2% of cases. A ventilator was present in 66% of the places, but used only in 30% of them because of the lack of maintenance and training.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, 50% of nurse anaesthetists were working alone. However, this rate is probably under-estimated, as the questionnaire did not consider anaesthesia practice in the country side.
Adnet
P
P
Service d'accueil et d'urgence, hôpital R-Salengro, CHU, Lille, France.
Diallo
A
A
Sanou
J
J
Chobli
M
M
Murat
I
I
Fian
E
E
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000758:Anesthesia; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000193:education; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires