[Upper respiratory tract infections in children: impact on surgical scheduling at a pediatric hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of cancelation of scheduled surgical procedures attributable to upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in our university pediatric hospital in Madrid and to analyze the effect that literature reviews and appropriate counseling of parents would have on cancelations.


METHODS
We carried out a retrospective study of the reasons for canceling scheduled pediatric ear, nose, or throat operations in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Statistical comparisons were performed with the chi2 test.


RESULTS
In 2001, 24% of the 641 procedures scheduled were canceled, 12.9% of them because of URTIs. After applying criteria based on a review of the literature, 15% of the 751 procedures were canceled in 2002, 4.9% of them because of URTIs (P<0.0001 in comparison with 2001). In 2003 14.3% of the 760 scheduled procedures were canceled, 6.5% because of URTIs (P<0.0001 in the comparison with 2001). In 2004 12.2% of the 692 scheduled procedures were canceled, 7.2% because of URTIs (P<0.0001 in comparison with 2001). Cancelations in autumn-winter or in spring-summer seasons amounted to 28.2% vs 19.8% in 2001, 17.1% vs 12.7% in 2002, 16.6% vs 11.8% in 2003, and 13.8% vs 11.1% in 2004.


CONCLUSIONS
URTIs are responsible for a high rate of cancelations of scheduled operations, particularly in colder seasons of the year. To obtain optimal results, criteria based on up-to-date literature reviews should be put into effect and parents should be given appropriate information.
Palomero Rodríguez
M A
MA
Servicio de Anestesia y Reanimación Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz, Madrid.
Sanabria Carretero
P
P
Rodriguez Pérez
E
E
Goldman Tarlousky
L
L
Nodal Ramos
A
A
Díaz González
C
C
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors