Ran out of instruments, say orthopedic doctors who halted elective surgeries
'May have been incapable of life or death surgery,' warns letter to Eastern Health
A letter from orthopedic surgeons to Eastern Health explaining why they halted elective surgeries for a week says doctors ran out of instruments last Friday, and feared they would not be able to perform a life or death operation if one had been needed.
The March 5 letter from Dr. William Moores, on behalf of his colleagues, explains why orthopedic surgeons suspended all elective surgeries for the week of March 7.
Moores wrote "multiple trays [of instruments] were required to complete an emergent orthopedic case at the HSC [Health Sciences Centre]" on the evening of March 3.
Specialized gear and basic instruments had to be brought in from St. Clare's Hospital.
"The trend worsened on Friday as three orthopedic lists were severely affected after dozens of trays were rejected," Moores wrote.
'Dangerous situation'
"That eventually left the HSC with no basic instrument trays as of about 2 p.m. This created a dangerous situation at the only trauma center in the province."
The letter goes on to warn of potentially dire consequences.
"We were in a situation that we may have been completely incapable of performing emergency life or death surgery should the need have presented itself," Moores wrote.
A dangerous situation at the only trauma centre in the province.- Dr. William Moores
Doctors are not confident, he said, and therefore cannot make their patients feel confident, adding they are also worried about lawsuits.
"We also feel that if we were to have a complication arising from a case performed electively during this turmoil that we as surgeons would be left vulnerable from a legal standpoint," said Moores on behalf of the orthopedics department.
The surgeons have said they will reassess the situation for next week.
'Still having issues'
The clinical chief of surgery for Eastern Health, Dr. Doug Drover, told CBC Wednesday the health authority supports the doctors' decision.
Drover said orthopedic surgeons require large tools, which are more difficult to clean than smaller instruments.
"Mild, residual, metallic staining" is how he described the staining that is still showing up.
The health authority always has trays set aside for emergencies, Drover said.
He said postponing elective surgeries gives the hospitals in St. John's some breathing room to address the problem.
"We're still having issues. There are cases we cancelled today, significant cases, significant worries for the patients," he said, adding other cases have been rescheduled for later in the week.
"We are moving forward, but I'm being cautious."
The problem with stained tools has been going on for about a month, and has cost Eastern Health about $3 million to date.
With files from Mark Quinn