[A 3-YEAR COMPARATIVE COHORT - TRENDS IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY CONSULTATIONS IN THE PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC].

Aims: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed emergency department (ED) referral trends worldwide.

Objectives: We aim to investigate inpatient consultation in the ED of a pediatric otolaryngology-head and neck surgery service during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to two preceding years.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of children under 18 years who had an otolaryngology consultation in Schneider Children's Hospital ED from 2018-2020.

Results: Of the 4,213 patients who underwent otolaryngology consultations in the ED, infection pathogenesis was the leading cause, presenting in 51.1% of the patients during the three-year study period. During the year 2020, the proportion of patients admitted to the ED who were referred to otolaryngology-head and neck consultations was significantly higher than in previous years (p<0.001), especially during the summer (p=0.001). In addition, increased rates were observed of trauma, foreign body pathogenesis, and mastoiditis (16% vs. 13%, p=0.03; 13% vs. 8%, p<0.001; and 2.4% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, otolaryngology consultations in the emergency department increased substantially. Improvements in community clinics service may alleviate this increased burden.