A analysis was performed on 1716 pediatric surgical patients, who were supposed to receive elective operations at Seoul National University Childrens Hospital from March 2, 1991 to June 29, 1991. The results can be summarized as follows; 1) Overall cancelled ratio was 19.6%. 2) Departmental distribution of delayed/cancelled elective operations, Plastic surgery 27.0%, pediatric surgery 26.1%, neurosurgery 20.3%, cardiothoracic surgery 18.1%, orthopedic surgery 18.0%, ENT 15.6 ophthalmology 13.9% and urology 13.8%. 3) Major causes of delay/cancellation of elective operatios; Abnormal history and physical examination 54.3 , non-medical 35.0% and abnormal laboratory data only 10.7%. 4) Detailed causative factors of delay/cancellation of elective operations, URI 30.6%, notadmitted 27.9%, heavy schedule 5.9%, abnormal LFT 5.3%, FUO 4.2%, abnormal PTT/PT 2.4%, arrhythmia and cardiac disease 2.4% and further diagnostic evaluation needed 1.8%.