One Machine,
One Step Forward

In the operating room of Šabac General Hospital, a regional hospital in the Republic of Serbia (Serbia), an anesthesiologist is working with a top-notch anesthesia machine confidently and carefully observing a minor patient who is undergoing a major orthopaedic surgery.

Traditionally, doctors in Šabac General Hospital had to transfer such vulnerable patients to a higher-tier hospital. Now, surgeons are more confident in performing more complex surgeries alongside advanced anesthesia machines.

As a matter of fact, this is not an isolated case. Since the end of 2022, more significant surgeries have been conducted in all tiers of 51 hospitals across Serbia sponsored by a nation-wide anesthesia machine renewal project. How do we perceive the part anesthesia machines play in this progress in Serbia?

Breaking the glass ceiling to tackle more challenges

The anesthesia machines that prevail in Serbia are A9 Anesthesia System (A9), a premium model from Mindray that has been widely acclaimed since its launch in 2020.

A9

Anesthesia System

All-round Safety

18.5-inch touchscreen with 360 degree rotation

Electronic flowmeter with traditional ease-to-use knobs, supporting multiple setting methods

Precise electronic vaporizers in a familiar position

System administrator screen allowing easy viewing of the system status to help quickly troubleshoot

Integrated breathing circuit in a classic panel design

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118.5-inch touchscreen with 360 degree rotation

2Electronic flowmeter with traditional ease-to-use knobs, supporting multiple setting methods

3Precise electronic vaporizers in a familiar position

4System administrator screen allowing easy viewing of the system status to help quickly troubleshoot

5Integrated breathing circuit in a classic panel design

Before the renewal project in 2021, the former anesthesia machines in Serbia had served the country for over 10 years. The anesthesiologists longed for more advanced anesthesia machines that can provide more holistic solutions for the patients and tackle more clinical challenges.

Klinički Centar Srbije (KCS, University Clinical Centre of Serbia), the biggest general hospital in Serbia, is where the elite doctors treat the most complicated cases in the country. However, sometimes the function-wise limitation of the anesthesia machines would make the doctors reluctant to take risks for the patients. In 2021, A9 was trialed in KCS, and later 60-70% of hospitals in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, installed A9.

Prof. Dr Ivan Palibrk

Anesthesiology expert in KCS

Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade

In this hospital, major surgeries may last up to over 10 hours, so an anesthesia machine with excellent safety and stability during such long and risky operations can be very helpful. A9 is very friendly and allows anesthesiologists to operate easily and quickly without intensive training.

An intuitive anesthesia machine can be a backbone for surgeons to gain the confidence to challenge themselves for the patients. Moreover, the patients will also benefit from the supportive cooperation between the machine and the anesthesiologists and surgeons. As a top hospital, KCS represents the highest standard of healthcare in Serbia, and its use of anesthesia machines has successfully lifted the standard even higher for the entire healthcare system in this country.

Pushing the limits of technology to promote human well-being is the mission Mindray has been undertaking. One example of this is Mindray's delivery of anesthesia machines that help Serbian doctors to break the glass ceiling of their expertise and accomplish better patient care.

Extend the capability for institutions with limited resources

Serbia has a population of 6.83 million and nearly 25% of them reside in Belgrade. The rest obviously has limited access to high-quality medical resources.

In most cases, regional hospitals or lower-tier hospitals outside the capital city of Serbia have no enough experienced anesthesiologists or up-to-date devices. In practical terms, to some extent, a well-designed anesthesia machine with an accurate automated system can free the young anesthesiologists from their inexperience, allowing them to work with more operations.

Population density of Serbia (2020)
source: https://popdensitymap.ucoz.ru/

Population density of Serbia (2020)

Last year, the local media reported installations of A9 in the hospitals outside of the capital city. This advanced anesthesia machine have been highly recognized by the doctors for the improvement it brings to their work. The powerful ventilation tools, automation and friendly interface system of an anesthesia machine have contributed significantly to the productivity and efficiency in the Operating Room and Therapy Unit, while allowing them to take on more challenging cases instead of transferring the patients out.

Photo by Vranje News

Dr Nikole Gogić

Surdulica Health Centre

This is the first premium class device that comes to the Health Center in Surdulica. It helps us direct all attention to the patient.

As a matter of fact, the procurement of premium anesthesia machines like A9 is mostly contributed by developed countries and their healthcare entities. As a developing country, Serbia has fewer privileged resources to equip all of its medical institutions, which means premium devices are not easily accessible to patients and anesthesiologists in lower-tier hospitals in the country. Yet, Serbian authorities have been pushing hard against the status quo. As part of its contribution to this endeavor, Mindray has helped the hospitals improve their surgery capability while enhancing patient safety.

The journey toward better healthcare continues

Patient safety is the top concern in Anesthesiology. World Federation and the European Society of Anesthesiologists have made great efforts to formulate international standards and to define the available resources for safe anesthetic practice. Anesthesia services need to be made accessible to every patient. Serbia has adopted the Helsinki Declaration for Patient Safety in Anesthesiology, signed by the Serbian Association of Anesthesiologists. In 2022, Mindray signed the declaration as well, taking vows to bring better anesthetic care for all.

Mindray team in Serbia

The improvement in the quality of national clinical service does not happen overnight, and every big step forward is the result of every small change. The part Mindray's anesthesia machines are playing in Serbia is the little push to better healthcare for all.

Anesthesia is only one portion of Mindray's business layout. Its IVD, Medical Imaging and other life supporting devices are also pick up their pace in Serbia as well as the rest of the world. For more than three decades, Mindray has never stopped delivering on its mission to provide advanced medical technologies and make them more accessible. Mindray's innovation will continue to empower the global medical community and advance healthcare services for everyone in need.