The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on theatre utilization at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital

Abstract

Background SARS-COV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19, was initially identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the 31st of December 2019 following the presentation of 27 patients, with an acute respiratory syndrome of unknown aetiology, in Wuhan City in China [1]. Since its discovery in late 2019, COVID-19 has altered life as we know it for a large percentage of the world’s population. As of November 2022, COVID-19 has been diagnosed in 228 countries and territories and resulted in more than six million deaths [2]. COVID-19 has put immense strain on healthcare systems throughout the world. Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH) in Coronationville, Johannesburg is no exception. From the announcement of a national state of disaster on the 18th of March 2020 and subsequent implementation of ‘Lockdown’ on the 27th of March 2020, hospital services have been severely altered and disrupted. The ramifications of this disruption are yet to be formally investigated. This study aims to identify the effect of the above directive on theatre utilization and compare it to theatre usage pre-pandemic at RMMCH. Methods A retrospective descriptive study surveying theatre utilisation for 12 months prior to, and 12 months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, was conducted at RMMCH. Anaesthetic charts, theatre statistics, and theatre logs were accessed and analyzed to obtain data relating to number of theatre cases and theatre hours completed as well as data pertaining to blood product utilisation during the specified time periods. In addition, intensive care unit, high care unit and ward admission records were retrospectively analyzed for data pertaining to morbidity and mortality data for the same specified time periods. Data recording theatre case cancellations and postponements was also analyzed. All data was input into a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Results There was a statistically significant reduction in theatre utilisation both in terms of cases done and theatre hours used when comparing data from the year preceding the onset and the first year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.