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- Title
The Role of Anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Practical lessons from Groote Schuur Experience.
- Authors
Hofmeyr, Ross; Seymour, Lisa M.; Peters, Shrikant; Petersen, Ashraf; Swanevelder, Justiaan
- Abstract
Clinicians worldwide have been called to action against COVID-19, requiring development of effective systems to respond to the surge of pandemic cases. Anaesthesiologists are equipped to fulfil many roles in the operating room, critical care and retrieval settings. However, it was anticipated that the case load could overwhelm our existing referral structures, and put staff and patients at increased risk. We describe, using the "4S" components of surge capacity development, how systems, staff, space and stuff were utilised to create a COVID Anaesthesia, Intubation and Retrieval (CAIR) Team at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. The primary aims of the team are to provide safe anaesthesia for patients with known or suspected COVID-19, and perform intubation and transfer in COVID wards or high care areas to intensive care units. Concurrently, promotion of strict infection control practices and risk mitigation through the use of a dedicated group of low-risk, highly trained individuals was achieved. Staff support systems, protocols for streamlined patient management, reallocation of spaces within the hospital, the capital and disposable equipment required for the service, and use of continual audit and iterative improvement are discussed in this article.
- Subjects
SOUTH Africa; HOSPITALS; INTENSIVE care units; OPERATING rooms; ANESTHESIOLOGISTS; ANESTHESIA; IMMUNIZATION; STRATEGIC planning; SARS-CoV-2; AIRWAY (Anatomy); INTUBATION; MORTALITY; MEDICAL protocols; EXPERIENCE; CRITICAL care medicine; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; EMPLOYEES' workload; NURSES; PERSONAL protective equipment; HEALTH systems agencies; COVID-19 pandemic
- Publication
Update in Anaesthesia, 2022, Vol 36, p68
- ISSN
1353-4882
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/WFSA-D-21-00001