SASA has created this dedicated COVID-19 page to collate and share our guidelines and information
Please email all queries and concerns directly to covid19@sasaweb.com
Quick Links to COVID-19 Updates
Call To Action
As SASA continues to collaborate with governance structures and provide clinical guidance, the lower than expected rate of growth in our pandemic has afforded us some opportunities. This remains a defining period in our professional careers, and SASA urges practitioners to use this time in preparing the following:
Engage local management and be part of the solutions in your facilities
Strengthen the local ICU management work streams and rosters
Continue preparing your teams through practicing PPE donning and doffing, as well as intubation protocols
Develop specific COVID-19 strategies and protocols for your hospitals and ICUs
Northern hemisphere experiences have taught us that the psychological risk to healthcare workers remains severe. Ensure that local and regional ethics committees are in place, and identify Wellness Leads in your local facilities.
It is essential that the teams do simulations in each area. To enable this, Rowan Duys and Ross Hofmeyr have created some simulation videos and have kindly agreed to share with members.
GET READY and PRACTICE!
Please note that that guides and reference material for donning and doffing, as well as airway management and theatre workflow are in the pipeline, and working versions will be available soon.
SASA is also working extensively across the public and private sectors, with business and government, to enable PPE sourcing and distribution. We are aware that many hospitals in public and private sectors have no PPE. We shall keep membership up to date, as we deal with this issue as a matter of urgency.
Guidelines on COVID-19
Performing procedural sedation (sedation administered intravenously without airway instrumentation) will enable procedures to be performed safely and without the risk of aerosolization of respiratory droplets and as such may be preferable to the administration of a general anaesthetic where appropriate.
Click here to access these guidelines prepared by PACSA and SOSPOSA – 10 February 2021
13 August 2020. Click here.
SASA endorsed CCSSA Guideline: Critical Care Management of Covid-19 patient. 7 July 2020.
Click here for more.
Guideline document outlining key points to screen quality of N95 / equivalent respirators.
15 June 2020. Click here.
A one-stop toolkit for healthcare workers that may have been exposed to Covid-19 with links to many useful resources.
9 June 2020. Click here.
The Covid-19 Pandemic has resulted in the demand for new and innovative approaches to our basic patient management. Paediatric care poses unique stressors and pressures related to the additional needs of the parents or caregivers, as well as the very specific needs of the paediatric patients themselves. This document provides the relevant recommended guidelines.
Guideline Document: 8 June 2020. Click here.
Letter to Parents: 8 June 2020. Click here.
* (NCCEMD) National Committee for the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Death.
These guidelines are to be used and read in conjunction with other SASA and CCSSA Guidelines, as this is a dynamic process and updates to some Guidelines impact on others.
Download the presentation with voice over and other resources from the link below.
28 May 2020. Click here.
PLEASE NOTE: These slides can currently only be viewed on a PC or Android device.
Communication from PHISC concerning the clinical coding of the Novel Coronavirus.
28 May 2020. Click here.
Highlights of the amendments made in the recent Government Gazette:
- Clarity regarding mortal remains
- Quarantine (Directives 8J – 8M), and that those returning from overseas may be required to pay for their own quarantine (Directive 8N), and on the evaluation of foreign nationals (Directive 8O).
- In relation to public places (even if under control of a private entity), measures are prescribed on public hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, and the enforcing of physical distancing (Directive 8P).
26 May 2020. Click here.
The latest SASA Recommendations on PPE for Anaesthesia Providers during Covid-19 Era including PPE selection flow charts, guidance on use of N95 respirators and post-exposure guidelines.
7 May 2020, 13h00. Click here.
Recommended Anaesthetic ICU Coding Guidelines
6 May 2020, 17h00. Click here.
Detailed guidance on types and variants of respirators, labelling, fit and leak testing procedures.
28 April 2020, 11h00. Click here.
Guidance on the principles to be applied throughout procedural care during Covid-19 pandemic and principles to be applied during an ease or no lockdown period.
23 April 2020, 15h00. Click here.
PPE selection flowchart for procedural based care, PPE selection guide post team flowchart and discussion of PPE selection and use.
20 April 2020, 14h00. Click here.
Position statement on the risks and recommendations of the movement of anaesthesia practitioners between hospital sites during Covid-19 era.
15 April 2020, 17h00. Click here.
The anticipated massive increase in demand for ventilators in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic may result in the need to use anaesthesia workstations/ventilators for the ventilation of critically ill patients. This document outlines the procedures to follow in such cases.
7 April 2020, 18h00. Click here.
The purpose of these documents is to provide guidance for the triage of critically ill patients in the event that a public health emergency creates demand for critical care resources (e.g., ventilators, critical care beds) that outstrips the supply.
Summary. 6 April 2020, 15h00. Click here.
Full Document. 6 April 2020, 15h00. Click here.
This is a living document intended to help planning, preparation and execution of airway management for known or highly suspected COVID-19 patients in the operating theatre but has been kept as flexible as possible to allow implementation in other areas. Procedural and equipment checklists are included.
5 April 2020, 08h00. Click here.
One page document with checklist for pre-operative screening.
4 April 2020, 09h00. Click here.
This recommendation is intended to assist anaesthesiologists in how to provide anaesthesia for a patient where COVID-19 is not suspected and the child is not under investigation. Although this would seem strange, we need to consider how our normal practice may need to be altered due to the current pandemic.
2 April 2020, 16h00. Click here.
This is an evolving document created to provide guidance to healthcare workers on the integration of palliative care (for Covid-19 patients) into standard care in intensive care units, hospital wards, emergency departments, out-patient clinics, intermediate care facilities, care homes and private homes.
2 April 2020, 16h00. Click here.
Guideline document on human factors principles to ensure safety of yourself, colleagues and family during Covid-19 era.
This document provides examples of suitable filters for Covid-19 patients and manufacturer-specific documentation on filter types.
These documents provide information about the new codes for Covid-19 and includes clinical coding examples in the context of Covid-19. They
include references to the WHO case definitions for surveillance.
Click on the relevant name to access the document:
This document is not intended as a clinical guideline but provides clinicians with information on certain important features of COVID-19 infection in paediatric patients.
Thursday 26th March 2020, 12h00 Learn more
A three phase proposal for a purely Anaesthetic based practice to change to an ICU practice for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday 25th March 2020, 18h00 Learn more
Dynamic document on the recommendations for the management of anaesthesia and surgery for Elective Procedures in order to limit strain on healthcare infrastructure and resources during Covid-19 era.
Wednesday 25th March 2020, 10h00. Learn more
A living document related to patients who are known or suspected to have Covid-19 and may require emergency or urgent surgical care, which must be performed under anaesthesia in the operating theatre.
24 March 2020, 08h00. Click here.
A consensus guideline document developed by the Critical Care Society of Southern Africa on ICU triage and rationing during Covid-19 era.
Friday 20th March 2020, 18h00. Learn more
Multiple society endorsed guideline on labour analgesia, anaesthesia for caesarian delivery and general guidelines.
Wednesday 18th March 2020, 18h00. Learn more
Information on Covid-19 aimed specifically at members over the age of 60.
Sunday 15th March 2020, 15h30. Learn more
Educational Resources: Covid-19 Preparation Videos
SASA COVID-19 Position Statements
SASA endorsed statement from the South African Paediatric Association on the critical care of children infected with Covid-19 (suspected or proven).
25 August 2020. Click here.
South African Paediatric Association and SASA endorsed position statement on the care of children during the Covid-19 pandemic.
25 August 2020. Click here.
10 June 2020. Click here.
4 April 2020. 09h00. Click here.
Tuesday 24th March, 2020, 16h00. Learn More
Useful Resources
The latest Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) guideline document related to Covid-19.
5 February 2021. Click here.
A useful resource from the SASA Wellness in Anaesthesia Support Group on coping with the loss of a loved one.
2 November 2020. Click here.
A useful resource from the SASA Wellness in Anaesthesia Support Group on how to help someone that is grieving.
2 November 2020. Click here.
A useful wellness resource prepared by the SASA Wellness in Anaesthesia Support Group Convenor.
Published 30 October 2020.
The latest Wellness Letter, published 20 October together with useful mental health and resilience resources.
Wellness Letter 20 October 2020
Resources Available for Mental Health and Resilience
Document from the National Department of Health outlining a strategy to protect the health and safety of health workers in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
30 September 2020. Click here
Guideline on the submission of Covid-19 related health data from workplaces to the National Department of Health.
20 August 2020. Click here.
From the National Department of Health, version 5.
20 August 2020. Click here.
21 August 2020. Click here.
From the National Department of Health, a practical guide and manual for health facilities.
12 August 2020. Click here.
A downloadable template for the HCP Workplace Plan Annexure E, updated.
11 June 2020. Click here.
Results of the CovidSurg study.
Click here. 1 June 2020.
A multi-disciplinary team, known as the Healthcare Workers Care Network, offering mental health support to healthcare workers in South Africa, is now operational with SASA’s own Dr. Caroline Lee as one of the national convenors.
Click here for more info on the group.
Click here for their first newsletter.
Wellness message: tips on communicating with empathy when faced with misinformation during the Covid-19 era.
7 May 2020, 15h00. Click here.
6 May 2020. Click here.
This form is to be used in addition to the usual Anaesthetic Consent Form.
4 May 2020, 17h00. Click here.
28 April 2020, Click here.
21 April 2020, 14h00. Click here.
21 April 2020, 12h00. Click here.
16 April 2020, 17h00. Click here.
16 April 2020, 16h00. Click here.
SASA Congress 2020 Communication
Tuesday 17th March 2020, 11h00. Learn More
Monday 16th March 2020, 19h00. Learn more
Monday 23rd March 2020, 16h00 Learn More
SASA in the Media Surrounding COVID-19
Tuesday 17th March 2020 Interview by SABC Radio with Dr. Lance Lasersohn – Podcast. Listen Here
Prof. Busisiwe Mrara from SASA, the Academic Head of Anaesthesia at Walter Sisulu University and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, educates the public on the use of masks.
Dr. Owen Hodges talks with eTV’s Melanie Rice on how doctors and nurses are preparing for worst case scenario.
Latest Numbers
Data: Department of Health, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Bhekisisa
130416
Active Cases
59258
Fatalities
1671391
Recoveries
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