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Trends and patterns in urgent pediatric otolaryngology inter-hospital referrals in Saudi Arabia
Marwa A Algadi1, Alanoud A Alshathri1, Rawan S Alsugair1
1From the College of Medicine (Algadi, Alshathri, Alsugair, Alyabis), Almaarefa University, from the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Alsaleh), College of Medicine, King Saud University, and from Medical Referrals Center (Aljerian), Ministry of Health, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Urgent pediatric otolaryngology-head and neck surgery referrals in Saudi Arabia were analyzed. Unavailability of specialty and foreign bodies were common causes, with a notable decrease in 2020.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS)
- Healthcare Referral Systems
- Public Health Trends
Background:
- Pediatric ORL-HNS referrals represent a significant healthcare demand.
- Understanding referral patterns is crucial for resource allocation and service improvement.
- The impact of global health events, like COVID-19, on specialized medical referrals requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in urgent pediatric ORL-HNS referrals in Saudi Arabia.
- To identify prevalent causes for these urgent referrals.
- To assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral rates and provide recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive study utilizing the Saudi Ministry of Health's Ehalati referral system.
- Data collected for urgent pediatric ORL-HNS referrals from 2019 to 2020 across Saudi Arabia.
- Analysis included patient demographics, referral causes, and referral times.
Main Results:
- 1318 urgent ORL-HNS referrals were analyzed; average age was 6.5 years.
- Unavailability of specialty, foreign bodies, recurrent epistaxis, and tracheostomy were key referral drivers.
- Referrals decreased by 18.4% in 2020, with the Western region being the most active in referrals.
Conclusions:
- Maternity and pediatric hospitals are major sources of urgent ORL-HNS referrals.
- Expansion of ORL-HNS services is recommended in high-demand regions.
- Establishing clear standards for urgent ORL-HNS referrals can reduce inappropriate cases.
Objectives:
To assess trends in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) referrals among pediatric patients, and to address common urgent causes of ORL-HNS referrals in this population. Additionally, to give recommendations regarding these causes, and assessing the impacts of coronavirus desease-19 on such referrals.
Methods:
A retrospective descriptive study were the data was extracted from the referral system of the Saudi Ministry of Health (Ehalati), from 2019-2020. Pediatric patients from all hospitals across Saudi Arabia with problems related to ORL-HNS who have been referred urgently to other hospitals were included.
Results:
A total of 1318 urgent ORL-HNS referrals were collected. The average age of the sample was 6.5 years, with the unavailability of specialty being the major cause for referrals. Foreign bodies, recurrent epistaxis, and tracheostomy were also common clinical causes. The average time for accepting referrals was 21 hours. Most cases had medical or surgical intervention prior to referral. The Western region of Saudi Arabia was the most common sender and receiver of all referrals. In 2020, referrals decreased by 18.4%.
Conclusion:
Maternity and pediatric hospitals make up the largest number of referring hospitals for ORL-HNS urgent cases. Expanding ORL-HNS services has been recommended in highly demanding areas. standards for urgent ORL-HNS referrals may limit inappropriate urgent referrals.
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