Implementing external aortic compression in Brazil

In cooperation with the Brazilian Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), ExAC has provided training in external aortic compression at five different hospitals, involving 150 health professionals. The hospitals, four public and one private are located in the metropolitan area of the state capital Vitória and in two other municipalities south of the capital.

With a total of six days with two or three sessions each day, we experienced an overwhelming interest in learning about external aortic compression as a measure to reduce postpartum haemorrhage. The local media; press, TV and radio, made coverage about external aortic compression and made interviews with CEO Grethe Heitmann.

The research team from left: Mara Rejane Barroso Barcelos, Edson Theodoro dos Santos Neto, Alendiana Silva Santos, Grethe Heitmann, Tatiana Amaral

The training would not have been possible without the initiative of Edson Theodoro dos Santos Neto, coordinator of the post-graduate programme in community health at UFES. Through the research project “Impact of simulation training in external aortic compression and uterine massage in the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage” conducted in partnership with ExAC and Østfold University College, he has been vital in the organization of the activities, from the process of ethical approval to organizing the agenda. We are also privileged to have Tatiana Amaral and Alendiana Santos at UFES doing their Phd and Master’s thesis’ on the project.

Health professionals at Hospital Estadual Dr. Jayme Santos Neves were among the 150 professionals trained in external aortic compression.

The enthusiastic reception from health professionals fuelled our conviction that our mission to disseminate knowledge about external aortic com

pression is of vital significance! A special thanks to the health professionals that facilitateted the training at their respective hospitals; Bárbara Novaes at Hospital Estadual Dr. Jayme dos Santos Neves, Serra; Milka Ranyelle Alves de Oliveira at Hospital Menino Jesus, Itapemirim; Nurse Michelle Anne de Oliveira Batista Salgueiro and Dr. Valéria Valim at Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes, Vitória; Luis Fernando da Costa Mattos Moreira at Hospital Dia e Maternidade Unimed, Vitória and Camila Bruneli do Prado at Hospital Infantil Francisco de Assis, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim.

Our partners at UFES and in the different hospitals are now participating in the dissemination of external aortic compression by using the ExAC Trainer to train even more professionals in the months to come.