Abstract No. 589 Assessing the role of interventional radiology during the initial phase of COVID-19: a large health system experience

Purpose: COVID-19 remains a global health crisis and continues to greatly impact health care systems Our study highlights the role of interventional radiology (IR) during the initial phases of COVID-19 in a large health care system based in the Midwest Materials and Methods: IR procedural volumes were compiled and stratified by service location from January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 for a large health care system in the Midwest Seven-day rolling aggregate values were calculated and comparisons were made to diagnostic radiology (DR) imaging volumes during the same time frame Percentage change in volume was calculated in relation to a state-mandated order to halt all nonessential medical care on March 17, 2020 IR procedures were stratified by category with interventional oncology (IO), dialysis interventions, and aspiration/drainage interventions comprising a majority of procedures A Z-test for proportions was performed to assess for change in each following the state-mandated shutdown Results: IR demonstrated a 34 9% decrease in total procedural volume following the shutdown of nonessential medical care, compared to a 45 4% decrease in DR volume There was a 25 4% decrease in inpatient IR volume and a 41 0% decrease in outpatient volume, DR volume showed 22 2% and 57 3% decrease, respectively Weekly outpatient volume analysis revealed the largest decrease in week 2 for IR at 49 3% and week 4 for DR at 67 0% IO, dialysis and aspiration/drainage procedures comprised 29 1%, 13 8% and 20 4% of procedures prior to the state mandated shutdown and 31 7%, 16 2% and 26 3% afterwards The proportion of IO and dialysis procedures were not statistically significant (P = 0 16 and 0 08 respectively) while aspiration/drainage procedures comprised a significantly higher proportion (P < 0 05) after the shutdown Conclusions: IR volumes during the initial phase of COVID-19 were relatively less affected than total DR volumes Specific attention to outpatient IR volumes demonstrates the valuable care provided following the state-mandated shutdown of nonessential procedures There was no significant change in oncology or dialysis interventions provided with a significant increase aspiration/drainage procedures