We've Reached a Decision

Written by MS4BCV

After two weeks spent assessing the needs of Burn Center Viedma, we’ve reached a decision on how to best utilize the funds that were so generously donated to MS4BCV. One of the most startling aspects of surgery at the burn center is the lack of reliable equipment to monitor vital signs during the course of an operation. The current monitor cuts in and out of service, and the validity of the data it presents when functional is questionable at best. Given that anesthetizing children is an extremely delicate pursuit, and the majority of children must be put under general anesthesia, the absence of adequate equipment for monitoring vital signs makes surgery at the burn center an extremely risky endeavor. Many times the only way the anesthesiologist knows for certain that the child’s heart is still beating is to use a stethoscope. Further more, if a child’s heart was to stop during a surgery, the OR lacks a defibrillator, which greatly inhibits the ability to resuscitate. Although Dr. Romero and staff are well aware of these inadequacies, they are unable to acquire new equipment since the hospital is federally funded. Currently the government has deemed other areas of health care in Bolivia a priority, so the burn center continues to go without. Sadly, it is the children who suffer, and pay the price in preventable scarring or deformities due to rushed procedures, infections due to delayed surgeries, or in some cases death.

Based on these observations, and input from our predecessors, we felt the best way for MS4BCV to uphold our mission of service to Burn Center Viedma was to purchase a new monitor complete with EKG and defibrillator for the OR. Given our lack of knowledge concerning this equipment, we enlisted the help of Dr. Luis Quiroga, a family practitioner who received his medical training at the University of Cincinnati and who practiced in Ohio for over thirty years. We accompanied Dr. Quiroga to numerous medical supply stores throughout the city until we found the equipment that met our requirements. He has guaranteed us that we have chosen the best monitor possible. We would again like to thank all those who so generously donated to this cause so that a purchase of this magnitude could be made. Because of your generosity, lives will be saved.