New anaesthesia machine for paediatric patients
The Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) has received a brand new piece of equipment to support brilliant care across the Hospital campus.
Funded by a donor of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation, the $58,000 anaesthesia system administers general anaesthesia to paediatric patients and can be moved around the Hospital for use in the Michael Rice Centre for Haematology and Oncology, the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and the operating theatres.
The new anaesthesia machine in the WCH.
Astrid Lamont is Equipment Nurse Manager in Recovery and Anaesthetics, Surgical Services at the WCH. She says, “This machine is used on all ages and provides the ability to administer general anaesthesia, thereby allowing doctors to perform procedures and surgeries to enable patients to return to their best health.”
In the Michael Rice Centre, it is used with patients who may require chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies or lumbar punctures (a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal, most commonly to collect fluid for testing).
It is also used to provide anaesthesia for children unable, or too young, to remain still for undergoing diagnostic scans such as CT scans.
The machine allows these treatments to be done in the comfort and familiarity of the clinic or ward space they are used to, rather than the patient needing to be taken to the operating theatres.
Astrid says, “We know that doing the procedures in the clinics or wards means the children avoid coming to the operating theatres and are with their parents in the clinic/ward setting immediately post the treatment.”
“This reduces stress, and possibly hospital trauma, experienced by young patients.”
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