Capnography action letter

Lifebox, Smile Train and the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists are joining forces to urge health care systems and equipment standard guidelines, including those set by the World Health Organization (WHO) globally, to include capnography as an essential anesthesia monitor for safer surgery in an action letter.

In an action letter launched at the  All Africa Anaesthesia Conference, the organizations are  calling on the World Health Organization and national decision-makers to accelerate the adoption of capnography in low-resource settings by taking three immediate actions: 

• Upgrading capnography in the WHO-WFSA International Standards for a Safe Practice of Anesthesia from “recommended” to “highly recommended” 
• Including capnography alongside pulse oximetry in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist as required equipment for safe surgery, and 
• Incorporating capnography as essential in national anesthesia guidelines.

Is this call to action something that you would endorse and support? We need your backing to help us in our work to close the global capnography gap and improve  anesthesia safety worldwide.

Read the  action letter here.

—————————————————————————————————————————–

What is the Global Capnography Gap? 

Capnography has been a staple in operating rooms in high-income countries for more than three decades. Its introduction in the United States in 1991 led to a dramatic decline in anesthesia-related complications and deaths. Yet, capnography remains largely unavailable across most low-resource-setting operating rooms, with research showing there is often a 100% gap between the need for capnography and its availability in low-income countries. Read about what this means for anesthesia providers having to work without this device. 

What is the Smile Train-Lifebox Capnograph? 

The Smile Train-Lifebox Capnograph is an affordable, user-friendly, high-quality device with sturdy construction and long battery life. The device meets robust specifications for the monitoring of  both pediatric patients and use in low-resource settings. Launched by Smile Train and Lifebox in 2023, the two organizations are working to equip low-resource setting operating rooms with this essential device. Read more. 

How can I get involved?

• Share our Capnography Infographic  and action letter with your networks, on social media or by email
• $1000 puts a capnograph into an operating room currently lacking this device.  Support anesthesia colleagues worldwide by making a donation today. 
• Sign up for our email updates to join our work making surgery safer for every patient, everywhere.

Get in touch to enquire about purchasing or receiving a Smile Train-Lifebox Capnograph