Machines matter too: including biomedical engineering partnerships in global health initiatives.

As the global burden of disease shifts from communicable to non-communicable diseases and trauma-related debility, the global health-care community has increasingly advocated for equitable access to surgical services. Much of this attention has focused on bolstering clinical and research expertise through the expansion of clinical training programmes and research resources. However, despite the crucial role of equipment, including medical devices, in safe clinical care, comparatively little attention has been paid to sustainably bridging the biomedical and technical gaps that exist in global health.

Delays to essential surgery at four faith based hospitals in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Data regarding delays for emergency surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited. We have therefore decided to undertake an evaluation of delays in patients seeking care, reaching care and receiving care for emergency surgery at four rural faith-based hospitals in this region over a 3 month period.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, multi-center, international study at four rural faith-based hospitals in Madagascar, Gabon, Cameroon and Burundi.

A Comparison of Local Anesthetics for Intravenous Catheter Insertion in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Clinical Pilot Trial.

Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is one of the most painful procedures pediatric patients undergo during hospitalization. To date, local anesthetics delivered via cream, patch, and needle-free injection have not been rigorously evaluated together. This study aimed to investigate feasibility and potential efficacy of local anesthetics on pain intensity during PIVC insertion in an unblinded, single-center, randomized clinical pilot trial.

Does carrier fluid reduce low flow drug infusion error from syringe size?

Background: Critically ill neonates and pediatric patients commonly require multiple low flow infusions. Volume limitations are imposed by small body habitus and co-morbidities like cardiopulmonary disease, renal failure, or fluid overload. Vascular access is limited by diminutive veins.