Mechanical ventilation in pediatric hospitals in Senegal.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Mechanical ventilation (MV) requires an efficient technical platform and experienced staff. The objective of this study was to evaluate the practice of MV in a pediatric intensive care unit in Senegal.

METHODS

A total of 102 patients were included. The indications for intubation were respiratory failure in 51% of cases, circulatory failure in 29%, septic shock in 13%, and other indications in 5%. The average delay to intubation after admission was 1.86 days (1 h to 5 days). The mortality rate was 43%.

CONCLUSION

The construction of new and dedicated infrastructures, the training of personnel, and the improvement of the technical platform can lead to a reduction in the infant and child morbidity and mortality associated with MV.