Total intravenous anaesthesia in a developing environment

Abstract

Background: Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) is a technique of anaesthesia which has become widely popular in the developed world with the availability of computerized infusion devices and appropriate drugs making its use easy and safe for the practitioner, and acceptable, tolerable and cost-effective for the patient. Such infusion devices and new drugs are not readily available in the developing world, although in Nigeria today, infusion devices may be obtained through medical equipment companies now established in the country, and opioids are available through the National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Aim: This paper aims to discuss TIVA giving insights into its practice in a developing economy without the use of sophisticated equipment and drugs, in order to encourage practitioners to use the technique.
Method: At the 1st South-South regional anaesthesia conference in Calabar in July 2004, a symposium on TIVA in a developing economy was held as part of the conference. This review utilized literature from relevant texts and that obtained through Medline search.
Results: This paper discusses TIVA highlighting aspects of its use in the developed world, and presenting its rather peculiar practice in our environment without the use of sophisticated equipment and opioid analgesics.
Conclusion: TIVA is a unique technique of anaesthesia which is easy to master. It is cost-effective and safe. Hence, it is possible to use what is available in the developing environment to obtain what is necessary.


Keywords: Anaesthesia, Total intravenous, Developing countries

Port Harcourt Medical Journal Vol. 1 (2) 2007: pp. 81-86