Abstract No. 205 COVID-19 and redefining essential procedures: a comparison of interventional radiology and procedural specialties in large health system

ABSTRACT

Purpose: COVID-19 has had a large impact on health care systems during the initial surge phase. Early state mandated guidelines limited non-essential medical care to help curb transmission, preserve medical resources, and ease the burden on health care systems. Our study evaluates the impact on interventional radiology (IR) and surgical procedural volumes following a state mandate to halt non-essential care in March 2020. Materials and Methods: Total IR volume and procedural volume for other surgical specialties, including vascular surgery, urology, general surgery, gynecology, and GI surgery were compiled for March 2020 and April 2020 for a large health care system based in the Midwest. Procedural volumes were compared to monthly baseline volumes calculated as an average of 6 months (January 2019 through April 2019 as well as January and February 2020). Percent change in volume for each specialty was calculated. Results: A total of 919 and 708 procedures were performed by IR during March and April 2020, respectively. The aforementioned specialties performed a total of 2,467 and 1,041 procedures in March and April 2020. IR demonstrated a 3.5% decrease in volume during March and 25.7% decrease in volume during April 2020. Vascular surgery, general surgery, urology, gynecology and GI surgery demonstrated 11.2%, 20.2%, 25.4%, 30.6%, 38% decrease in March and 25.7%, 47.4%, 63.3%, 68.0%, 72.9% and 78.7% reduction in volume in April 2020, respectively. Conclusions: Procedural volumes during the initial phase of the COVID-19 health crisis were decreased compared to baseline values. Analysis following a state mandated halt on all non-essential care yielded large resultant reductions in volumes for multiple specialties. IR volumes were relatively less impacted, suggesting a larger proportion of essential procedures during this time frame.