Optimising operating theatre (OT) efficiency while maintaining the standardised patient care in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery with the dedicated spine team approach: a specialised spine unit experience

To report the efficiency of OT utilisation and perioperative outcomes with a dedicated spine team approach in AIS patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgeries in a consecutive case operation list.

Three AIS patients operated in a day (8:00 AM–8:00 PM) by a dedicated spine team were recruited between 2021 and 2022. The dedicated team comprised of three senior spine consultants who operated using a dual attending surgeon strategy, an anaesthetic consultant, dedicated surgical scrub nurses, anaesthesiology nurses, radiographers, and neuromonitoring technicians. Patients were categorised according to the sequence of operation list of the day (Case 1, Case 2, and Case 3). OT efficiency was represented by OT time in five stages (preoperative time, operative time, postoperative time, total OT time, and turnover time). OT time and perioperative outcomes were compared.

102 cases were analysed. On average, Case 1 began at 8:38 AM whereas Case 3 ended by 5:54 PM. OT efficiency was consistent throughout the day of operation with comparable OT time in all five stages between groups (p > 0.05). The mean turnover time was 15.1 ± 13.5 min and the mean operative time was 123.0 ± 28.1 min. Intraoperative arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters were maintained in an optimal range. The complication rate was 2.0% (N = 2/102).

Consistent OT efficiency was demonstrated with a dedicated spine team approach. Despite performing three AIS cases in a consecutive case operation list, patients’ safety was not compromised as perioperative outcomes between groups were comparable.