What Is a Rebreather?

A winner of the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award, Dr. Ezekiel Akande is a pain management doctor who completed a fellowship at Tufts University. Outside of his current role as the medical director and CEO of Somerset Regional Pain Center in Somerset, Kentucky, Dr. Ezekiel Akande enjoys deep sea diving.

Deep sea diving is an advanced form of underwater diving that requires equipment and specialized training. The term generally means diving to a depth of more than 98 feet. However, the exact definition can vary depending on the field of practice, which includes recreational, technical, and professional diving in addition to other certifications. Regardless, special equipment, such as a rebreather, is needed.

A rebreather assists with recycling oxygen by absorbing carbon dioxide that is exhaled by a person. Also knows as a closed circuit underwater apparatus, closed circuit rebreather, or semi-closed rebreather, a rebreather is required to complete deep dives. Modern versions of rebreathers stem from an invention in 1878, but the origins of the device go back as far as the 1600s to early submersibles.

The Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model of care

Anesthesiologist Dr. Ezekiel Akande currently serves as the chief executive officer of the Somerset Regional Pain Center in Somerset, Kentucky. Dr. Ezekiel Akande is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Established in 1905, the ASA is an association is committed to raising the practice standards for anesthesiologists through education and research. In performing its functions, the ASA develops models and guidelines to promote the safety of patients in the surgical setting.

The ASA has recently announced that it is going to work alongside the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) – the world's largest association of medical doctors specializing in musculoskeletal disorders – in developing the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model of care. The PSH concept was developed to address the growing problem of the fragmented surgical delivery system commonly seen in healthcare settings today. The goal was to create a model that would emphasize quality of care, patient satisfaction, and reduced costs by eliminating cancellations and delays in surgery, reducing complication rates and readmissions, and cutting the duration of hospital stays.