985 The Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiac Surgery Services at a Tertiary Cardiac Surgery Centre in the UK

Abstract

Abstract Aim This project aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac surgery services at one UK tertiary cardiac surgery centre. Method Data was collected from 2nd January 2020 to 1st April 2021. Three timeframes were selected, each encapsulating a 9-week period: pre-COVID (2nd January 2020 to 28th February 2020), during the first wave (Peak 1: 23rd March 2020 to 22nd May 2020, where peak infection date is 22nd April 2020), during the second wave (Peak 2: 30th November 2020 to 29th January 2021, where peak infection date is 29th December 2020). The data comprised of number of operations performed and cancelled, including cancellations due to lack of critical care bed availability. Mean and standard error was calculated in Microsoft Excel. Results The results show a substantial reduction in the service provided, with the average number of operations performed per week decreasing from 15.8 during the pre-COVID timeframe to 3.2 during the first wave, and 7.6 during the second. There was a greater percentage of cancellations due to lack of critical care beds during the first wave (50%) and the second wave (35%), compared to pre-COVID (34%). Conclusions During this pandemic, many health services, including tertiary cardiac surgery centres, were faced with significant burden, and forced to shift focus towards managing an unknown disease. This cardiac surgery department has adapted admirably and is gradually resuming to normal service. It is vital that insight gained from this pandemic is maintained and utilised to develop guidelines to improve and prepare services for future unprecedented events.