It's all in a splint

IV cannulas in children often need a splint especially if over a joint, to prevent the plastic tube kinking & obstructing flow of IV fluids & drugs. They also help secure the line in place as especially when children feel better they can be more mobile & pull out their IV.

In the UK we use single use plastic splints with padding - here in Cambodia this is not an option so the health workers have to get resourceful & use their imagination.

There are many differences between the two hospitals I work in. One is a CPA 3 referral hospital (has many specialities & is the highest level of referral - one in nearly every province), 260 beds, 38 doctors & is one of the largest provincial hospital in Cambodia.

The other is a CPA 2 (can do c-sections & some surgery but they have no specialities available),  it only has 5 Medical assistants & one doctor, 50 beds,  is on the Thai border & is an ex-khmer Rouge hospital.

One due to its size & level of under the table payments has a reasonable amount of cash flow. The other is small & resource poor, relative to other facilities in Cambodia.

Above are examples of splints from these two hospitals in  Cambodia - both children are toddlers with Dengue haemorrhagic fever. The second example is clearly the superior splint - fashioned from cardboard & tape. I wonder if you can guess which is from which hospital?

Its only a splint but sometimes a splint can say a thousand words.......