This kid wasn't so sure about us-be we can't really blame him. After all, we cut open his chest! This is Jennifer, trying to gain some of his trust back.
He went for the high five!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Standing.
This kid wasn't so sure about us-be we can't really blame him. After all, we cut open his chest! This is Jennifer, trying to gain some of his trust back.
He went for the high five!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Video Tour
Hello everybody!
Here's a video blog of the LLU Heart Surgery Team! It's a walking tour of the Alexandria New University Hospital and you get to meet some of the team! Check it out.
Here's a video blog of the LLU Heart Surgery Team! It's a walking tour of the Alexandria New University Hospital and you get to meet some of the team! Check it out.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Diary Entry #4
Incredible Invention
By
Dr. Mudit Mathur
PICU Intensivist
And
David Seymour
Respiratory Therapist
In Egypt, supplies can be difficult to obtain. One can be very spoiled in the U.S. with all that we have available. Due to cost, it seems that some supplies can be rare or completely unavailable to both hospitals and individuals. For example, areochambers are very expensive so there were none available. They can cost anywhere between 150-200 Egyptian pounds, more than one month’s salary.
An areochamber is used to enhance medication delivery from an inhaler. To create an aerochamber, we had to do some on-the-spot creative thinking.
We built one using an ambo bag mask, tape, and an empty plastic bottle along with a pair of scissors. The device however, does not need the mask to work.
A hole was cut in the bottom of a 500 cc Ringers Lactate bottle for the inhaler port. Tape was placed on the cut plastic to create a good seal when the inhaler is inserted.
Tape was also placed over the top of the bottle with a single cut through the middle to create a makeshift valve.
Now you have it! A functional aerochamber that you don’t have to take out a loan for!
By
Dr. Mudit Mathur
PICU Intensivist
And
David Seymour
Respiratory Therapist
In Egypt, supplies can be difficult to obtain. One can be very spoiled in the U.S. with all that we have available. Due to cost, it seems that some supplies can be rare or completely unavailable to both hospitals and individuals. For example, areochambers are very expensive so there were none available. They can cost anywhere between 150-200 Egyptian pounds, more than one month’s salary.
An areochamber is used to enhance medication delivery from an inhaler. To create an aerochamber, we had to do some on-the-spot creative thinking.
We built one using an ambo bag mask, tape, and an empty plastic bottle along with a pair of scissors. The device however, does not need the mask to work.
A hole was cut in the bottom of a 500 cc Ringers Lactate bottle for the inhaler port. Tape was placed on the cut plastic to create a good seal when the inhaler is inserted.
Tape was also placed over the top of the bottle with a single cut through the middle to create a makeshift valve.
Now you have it! A functional aerochamber that you don’t have to take out a loan for!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Starting the Second Week
Despite his lost luggage, Dr. Mathur is hard at work in the ICU after arriving on Friday night. Thanks to hospital scrubs and LLUCH shirts, he’s good to go.Wondering what Alexandria looks like outside the hospital? Here you go:
The harbor at Alexandria.
It’s all smiles knowing that this baby is doing well. After Sam helped teach the mother how to care for her daughter, the baby will be able to go home tomorrow.
On another note, the Air France strike will prolong the trip. Dr. Hasaniya is still in New York. He was scheduled to arrive today to perform surgery tomorrow, however, his flight was unexpectedly canceled because of the strike. He will now arrive tomorrow. No need to worry, the Heart Team is prolonging their work an extra day to make sure all the children scheduled for their surgeries will still take place. What a team….
Cairo Trip
The Egyptian Heart Team treated us to a trip to Cairo on Saturday. But we had to leave some of the our crew behind to keep an eye on the heart patients. Jennifer, Sam, Sabrina, and Dr. Mather deserve an extra pat on the back. Thanks guys.
First stop was the bathrooms. Not a bad view, huh? 
They're serious about their tourism in Cairo.
"Hi!"
This is Penny, she's the new arrival taking Stan's spot as the anesthesiologist.
You can ride a donkey from the Sphinx to the Pyramids, but we rode the bus.
The Sphinx!
A school of orphan boys were also visiting the Sphinx. None of them needed heart surgery.
Mark is already adjusting to local traditions.
The Nile.
A Whirling Dervish.
Cairo at night.
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