Impact of COVID-19 on procedure volume at a tertiary pediatric hospital

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to overwhelm entire healthcare systems. Here we characterize changes in surgical volumes at a regional tertiary pediatric hospital during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on all procedures performed during the state-wide ban on elective procedures (March 19th, 2020 to May 18th, 2020) that required anesthesia involvement were collected retrospectively and compared to the same time period in 2019. A total of 5785 procedures were performed: 4005 (69%) in 2019, and 1780 (31%) in 2020, representing a 55% decrease in total cases. The percentage decrease was disproportionate across surgical services. Add-on cases increased from 23% to 39%, and outpatient procedures decreased from 60% to 27%. The ban on elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant decrease in the volume of procedures performed at a tertiary pediatric hospital that differed among surgical services. •The statewide ban on elective procedures resulted in a 55% decrease in procedure volume at a tertiary pediatric hospital.•Surgical services were disproportionally affected by the ban on elective procedures.•Outpatient COVID-19 testing within 72 h of planned procedures was quickly instituted.•Time for COVID-19 testing to result improved over the study period.