397 Impact of COVID-19 on Theatre Utility

Luney, C; Little, C

INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 has significantly impacted the environment in which surgeons operate. Level-2 PPE is worn in our orthopaedic theatres, with increased time taken for simple tasks due to claustrophobia, excessive heat, and difficulties in communication due to masks, including donning and doffing. We sought to determine the impact of Covid-19 on theatre utility. METHOD: 8week period during Covid-19 was reviewed for semi-elective orthopaedic surgery. Pre-Covid-19 case controls for age, procedure and ASA were identified. Electronic database was used to determine total time in theatre complex, time taken for anaesthesia, total procedure time, and time taken for patient to leave the theatre. RESULTS: 27patients undergoing semi-elective surgery during Covid-19 pandemic and 27-matched controls from before pandemic were identified. No statistically significant difference in procedural or anaesthetic time. Significant difference in time interval between cases (14minutes pre-Covid-19 v 58minutes during Covid-19; p < 0.05). Mean theatre start times are 51minutes later during Covid-19. CONCLUSIONS: Procedural times of surgery have not significantly increased, however the time between cases has increased; resulting in a decrease in overall theatre complex utility and direct impact on future costing.