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The department renders anesthesia services for both elective and emergency surgery in all the eight operating theatres at LASUTH.
This number of theatres is expected to increase to ten by the time the two new theatres –presently under construction- are completed. The breakdown of theatres is as follows:
1. Three operating theatres at the main theatre complex.
2. Two operating theatres at Ayinke House.
3. One operating theatre at the Emergency Services Department.
4. One operating theatre at the Critical Care Unit.
5. One operating theatre at the Eye Centre.
ACTIVITIES
This department carries out the following activities:
(1) Providing preoperative assessment of patients for surgery, intraoperative clinical management of patients as well as post-operative follow-up of patients.
(2) Management of chronic pain
(3) Intensive care management of critically ill patients.
PATIENT COVERAGE
At the main theatre, ESD theatre and CCU theatre, the department renders anesthesia services to a number of patients for surgery, between seventy (70) and ninety-seven (97) patients every month.
At Ayinke House theatre the figure for both electives and emergencies range from one hundred and fifteen (115) to one hundred and fifty (150) every month.
STAFF COMPLEMENT
(1) DR. FARRI J. A. MDDA – Con. Sp. Grade I
(2) DR. (MRS) ODUBIYI A. O MBBS, BA – Con. Sp. Grade II
(3) DR. (MRS.) AKINOLA O. O. MBBS, BA – Con. Anaesthetist
Doctors – 15
Technicians _ 10
STAFF STRENGTH
The staff strength is still abysmally low. There are seven physician anaesthetists, three residents and four medical officers. Two of the five anaesthetic nurses in the department are slated for retirement before the year runs out.
INFRASTRUCTURE
There are six functional anaesthetic machines, all auspiciously acquired as refurbished items and are constantly in need of periodic as well as emergency maintenance.
There is also an anaesthetic machine at the CCU operating theatre with an in-built ventilator. None of the other anaesthetic machines is endowed with a ventilator and patients still have to be ventilated manually.
RECOVERY ROOMS
The recovery rooms are yet to be equipped. The only functional post-operative recovery facility is the one at the Critical Care Unit.
In conclusion, apart from elective and emergency coverage in the theatres listed above, the department is frequently called upon for airway management, particularly at the Critical Care Unit as well as in other wards in the hospital, wherever the need arises.
The department also attends to cardiac arrest cases. There is therefore a crying need for an increase in the current staff strength of fourteen (14) to at least twice this number.
It is pertinent to point out that the University College Hospital, Ibadan, which plays a mostly tertiary role has at least forty (40) physician anaesthetists at any time.
The consequence of the current tendency to over-stress anaesthetic personnel in order to effect adequate coverage has been frequent deterioration in the health of members of staff and at least in one case, the loss of a pregnancy in a female member of staff was directly attributable to work place related stress at the department.
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