A new report published in the journal Anaesthesia reveals the positive impact of the donation of Lifebox pulse oximeters and training to patient safety in Malawi. The year–long study investigated the effect of the charitable donation of 83 pulse oximeters, along with intense training for anaesthesia providers in their use, and management of any oxygenation failures detected. The study demonstrated how the sustainable introduction of this essential monitoring equipment contributed to improvements in patient safety, including a 36 percent reduction in the number of patients who experienced a lack of oxygen in their bloodstream during and after surgery.

Malawi is in sub–Saharan Africa and has a population of 16.4 million, but only 109 anaesthesia providers. Unlike in the UK, 95 percent are not doctors, and a study 10 years ago showed that the mortality rate attributable to anaesthesia in Malawi was up to a 100 times higher than in higher–resource settings.

Pulse oximetry measures oxygen in the bloodstream, sounding a warning alarm as the levels drop. An international standard for safe anaesthesia, it is used universally in high–resource countries as the most essential safety monitor in the operating theatre. However, due to cost, distribution problems and lack of environment–appropriate technology, only one–third of hospitals in Malawi had a pulse oximeter in every operating theatre before the donation of Lifebox pulse oximeters. The fact that the large–scale distribution was accompanied by training in using the new equipment (a standard component of Lifebox activities) was also thought to be key to the sustained success, in terms of the safety improvements demonstrated.

“We’re proud to partner with our colleagues in Malawi on a study that demonstrates what we know to be true: that anaesthesia providers given essential tools and training can significantly improve the safety of surgery for their patients,” said Kris Torgeson, Lifebox’s Global CEO. “Every surgical patient deserves safe care, wherever they are in the world. With a 36% reduction in dangerous episodes, oximeters in regular use, and provider knowledge levels improved and sustained, this study shows the measurable impact that Lifebox are having with simple, low–cost interventions.”