A biomedical engineer's experience in Nicaragua

The experiences of a 12-member team composed of physicians, nurses, a respiratory therapist, a rehabilitation engineer with specialty training in prosthetics and orthotics, and a biomedical engineer at a third-world medical facility are described. The obstacles encountered in the form of limited equipment, the state of disrepair of existing equipment, and environmental factors (heat and humidity) are discussed. The question of how best to help developing countries is examined.