• Marwa A Algadi, Alanoud A Alshathri, Rawan S Alsugair, Mohrah A Alyabis, Saad A Alsaleh, and Nawfal A Aljerian.
• From 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.
• Saudi Med J. 2022 Jan 1; 43 (1): 919791-97.

ObjectivesTo 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsA 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%.ConclusionMaternity 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.Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.

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