Introduction of WALANT in Kenya: An innovative method to alleviate poverty

Introduction of WALANT in Kenya: An innovative method to alleviate poverty

Pankaj Jani
The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA)

Introduction: Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet surgery is a disruptive and innovative method of treating Trauma and other surgical patients, since id reduces the costs of treatment drastically. 5 workshops have so far been held and approx.. 180 doctors trained in WALANT
Methods: Reports of the 5 training courses were perused and analysis done to arrive at the number of doctors trained in WALANT and also the number of patients treated so far and the savings in costs, compared to conventional treatments, to work out alleviation of poverty.
Results: Details of more than 180 doctors, including Medical Officer’s, General surgeons, Orthopedic surgeons and Plastic surgeons who trained at 5 workshops in the WALANT method of treating surgical patients, will be presented. At least 15 hospitals actively perform WALANT procedures on a regular basis. Over 1000 patients have been treated successfully with WALANT with tremendous reduction in costs to these patients, showing that poverty due to surgery can be alleviated thro practicing WALANT surgery. Machakos, Kikuyu, Kisumu, Karen, Bungoma, Mombasa and many other hospitals have established dedicated WALANT theatres and are actively performing WALANT surgeries.

Conclusion: WALANT is a disruptive and innovative form of surgery, that has revolutionised the care of trauma and other surgical patients by tremendously decreasing the costs incurred by patients for surgical care, thereby alleviating poverty.