Is this the end of the Emergency Department theatre?

Abstract

In the UK, many emergency departments (EDs) were built with dedicated theatres reflecting surgical origins. This study assessed the number and type of procedures performed in such a facility over a 16-year period. A retrospective cohort study of ED theatre usage was carried out in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary from 1995 to 2010. Cases were identified from theatre log books, and relevant demographics were extracted and analyzed. In total, 8785 procedures were performed, although this decreased from 1078 cases in 1995 to 214 cases in 2010. Common procedures included fracture manipulation, abscess drainage and foreign body removal. Use of ED theatre has reduced considerably. The reasons for this are complex, but may reflect a reduction in the surgical skill set of staff in the ED. Sound basic surgical skills are valuable to the emergency physician and further consideration should be given to how these are best acquired in the course of training.