International Journal of General Medicine (Jul 2021)

Anaesthesia and Critical Care Department at a Major Academic Centre’s Adaptation to Face the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Farsi S,
  • Noaman N,
  • Bukhary A,
  • Bahaziq W,
  • Sabbahi A,
  • Abushoshah I,
  • Boker A

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 3539 – 3552

Abstract

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Sara Farsi,1 Nada Noaman,1 Auhood Bukhary,1 Wadeeah Bahaziq,1 Alaa Sabbahi,1 Ibrahim Abushoshah,1 Abdulaziz Boker1,2 1Anesthesia and Critical Care Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Abdulaziz BokerDepartment of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, P.B. Box 80215, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaTel +966-2-640-1000 (ext. 1-10199/10209)Fax +966-2-640-8335Email [email protected]: The new novel coronavirus is having a major impact on healthcare systems internationally. Hospitals are struggling to manage the sudden influx of critical patients. Anaesthesiologists and critical care physicians are front liners in the fight against COVID-19 and carry the highest risk of getting infected. Due to the rapid response of the Saudi government to the WHO’s early warning, we were fortunate at our hospital to see a slower rise in COVID-19 cases allowing us some time to prepare. We had to make room for the expected rise in highly infectious and critical patients, while at the same time protecting non-COVID-19 patients, staff and trainees. Additionally, the team continued to provide essential and specialized care to all patients in the hospital and maintain its academic and non-clinical services within the university. This review presents the different protocols, challenges and lessons learned during the development of a COVID-19 anaesthesia and critical care department plan in a major teaching hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Our ultimate aim is to share our experience with other similar institutions.Keywords: SARS-COV-2, airway team, infection prevention, hospital resource, management, crisis planning, medical education

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