A Bibliometric Analysis of 30 Years of Pediatric Surgery Publications in Saudi Arabia

Pediatric surgery is a relatively new specialty in Saudi Arabia. Over the years, the number of specialized institutions and pediatric surgeons has gradually increased. This study aimed to analyze the quantity, quality, and structural indicators of pediatric surgery publications in Saudi Arabia. A retrospective online review of pediatric surgery publications affiliated with Saudi institutions was conducted from January 1991 to December 2020. A total of 496 publications were analyzed. The annual number of publications increased over time, peaking at 35 in 2014. The highest cumulative number of publications over five years was 131 between 2016 and 2020. Most publications (65.7%) were affiliated with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. Regionally, the majority were from institutions in Riyadh, followed by Makkah, the Eastern Region, and Asir. Case reports and case series constituted 49.4% of the publications, followed by retrospective chart reviews (30.2%). Notably, 96.3% of the publications were unfunded, and interinstitutional collaboration was limited (5.6%). The highest citation count was 179, with a peak age-corrected citation rate of 19.89 per year. While the number of publications increased, citation rates declined after peaking between 2006 and 2010. Based on our findings, although pediatric surgery research productivity is increasing, most publications are case reports or case series. Limited collaboration and funding may influence research quality and citation impact.