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Martino AM, Santos J, Giron A, Schomberg J, Goodman LF, Nahmias J, Nguyen DV, Grigorian A, Olaya J, Yu P, Guner YS. Variability in Standardized Mortality Rates Among Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Comparative Analysis of Trauma Centers. J Pediatr Surg 2024; 59:1319-1325. [PMID: 38580548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes significant morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients and care is highly variable. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) summarizes the mortality rate of a specific center relative to the expected rates across all centers, adjusted for case-mix. This study aimed to evaluate variations in SMRs among pediatric trauma centers for TBI. METHODS Patients aged 1-18 diagnosed with TBI within the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) from 2017 to 2019 were included. Center-specific SMRs and 95% confidence intervals identified centers with mortality rates significantly better or worse than the median SMR for all centers. RESULTS 316 centers with 10,598 patients were included. SMRs were risk-adjusted for patient risk factors. Unadjusted mortality ranged from 16.5 to 29.5%. Three centers (1.5%) had significantly better SMR (SMR <1) and three centers (1.5%) had significantly worse SMR (SMR >1). Significantly better centers had a lower proportion of neurosurgical intervention (2.4% vs. 11.8%, p < 0.001), a higher proportion of supplemental oxygen administration (93.7% vs. 83.5%, p = 0.004) and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (53.2% vs. 40.6%, p < 0.001) compared to significantly worse centers. CONCLUSIONS This study identified centers that have significantly higher and lower mortality rates for pediatric TBI patients relative to the overall median rate. These data provide a benchmark for pediatric TBI outcomes and institutional quality improvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective Comparative Study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice M Martino
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Santos
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Andreina Giron
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - John Schomberg
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Laura F Goodman
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Jeffry Nahmias
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Danh V Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Areg Grigorian
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Joffre Olaya
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Peter Yu
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Yigit S Guner
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
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Gerlach R, Kluwe W. [Prehospital care of pediatric traumatic brain injury]. Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 2023; 118:626-637. [PMID: 37450022 DOI: 10.1007/s00063-023-01046-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents is associated with significant morbidity and, in severe TBI, mortality. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the spectrum of TBI, its pathophysiology, and current treatment recommendations for prehospital management of children and adolescents with TBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS The current literature was reviewed for studies on the management of TBI in children and adolescents. RESULTS In recent years, a large number of scientific studies have been published that have resulted in evidence-based guidelines for primary care of children with TBI. The primary aim is to minimize secondary brain damage following TBI, for which immediate assessment of the severity of TBI at the scene based on clinical findings and the accident mechanism and initiation of specific treatment measures to prevent hypoxia, hypotension, and hypothermia are critical. Not only prehospital management, but also the rapid transfer of children with severe TBI to centers with high neurosurgical, pediatric surgical, and pediatric intensive care expertise is of particular importance to improve survival and neurological outcome after severe TBI. CONCLUSION Structured prehospital management may help reduce secondary brain injury after TBI and lead to improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger Gerlach
- Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Helios Klinikum Erfurt, Nordhäuser Str. 74, 99089, Erfurt, Deutschland.
| | - Wolfram Kluwe
- Klinik für Kinderchirurgie und Kinderurologie, Helios Klinikum Erfurt, Erfurt, Deutschland
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Beggs MR, Ashkin A, Larsen BMK, Garros D. Measuring Energy Requirements of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients in Pediatric Intensive Care With Indirect Calorimetry: A Comparison With Empiric Methods. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2023; 24:e468-e475. [PMID: 37125799 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000003266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Energy requirements following moderate or severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not been fully elucidated. Indirect calorimetry (IC) is the gold standard for measuring resting energy expenditure (MREE) in PICU. However, technical complexity limits its use. We aimed to determine whether MREE differs from standard of care energy estimation and delivery in a cohort of pediatric patients following moderate to severe TBI during PICU admission. DESIGN Retrospective case series study. SETTING Single-center, 16-bed general PICU in Canada between May 2011 and January 2019. PATIENTS Children (0-18 yr) admitted to a PICU for moderate (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] 9-12) to severe TBI (GCS < 9) and had an IC study performed while mechanically ventilated. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS During the study period, 245 patients were admitted with the diagnosis of trauma with TBI. The study includes a convenience sample of 26 patients with severe ( n = 23) and moderate ( n = 3) TBI who underwent a total of 34 IC measurements. MREE varied considerably from 29% to 144% of predicted energy expenditure. Using Bland-Altman comparative analysis, neither Schofield nor World Health Organization predictive equations were in agreement with MREE. Only one measurement revealed that the patient was appropriately fed (energy provided in nutrition support was within 10% of MREE); 10 (38%) measurements revealed overfeeding and 15 (58%) underfeeding at the time of testing. CONCLUSIONS The present study adds to the small body of literature highlighting the limitations of predictive equations to evaluate energy requirements following moderate to severe pediatric TBI. IC, when feasible, should be used as the preferred method to orient PICU teams to feed such vulnerable patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R Beggs
- Nutrition Services, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Allison Ashkin
- Nutrition Services, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Bodil M K Larsen
- Nutrition Services, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Daniel Garros
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Al-Simaani RBY, Al-Kzayer LFY, Ali KH, Al-Ani MH, Nakazawa Y. SARS-CoV-2-Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C): A Case Report from Iraq. Pediatr Rep 2023; 15:532-540. [PMID: 37755408 PMCID: PMC10538170 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric15030048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to evolve. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare post-COVID-19 complication that affects children with critical outcomes. Few MIS-C reports were available from Arab-Asian ethnicities. We here describe a presentation mimicking a head injury overlapping the manifestations of MIS-C in a child from Iraq. A 10-year-old boy presented with blunt trauma in a shock-like status, and a head injury was suspected. Since he was febrile two days before the trauma, another pathology was assumed. Imaging and laboratory evaluations were performed, and after excluding gross neurosurgical etiology, he was initially treated as a toxic shock syndrome. Meanwhile, he was deteriorating with continuous fever, impaired consciousness, and seizure on the following day. Although not considered initially, close monitoring with a multidisciplinary approach and serial investigations revealed that the child met the criteria of MIS-C. SARS-CoV-2 IgG was shown to be high, while the RT-PCR of COVID-19 was negative. Once he received immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone, he improved dramatically. In conclusion, this report aimed to increase awareness about MIS-C among health workers and emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary team approach in Iraq due to the importance of timely treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruwaid Behnam Y. Al-Simaani
- Department of Pediatrics, Al-Sheikhan General Hospital, Nineveh 42012, Iraq
- Department of Pediatrics, Noorjan Medical Center, Erbil 44001, Iraq
| | | | - Kenan Hussien Ali
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad 10071, Iraq
| | - Mouroge H. Al-Ani
- Department of Pediatrics, Nana-Kali Hospital for Hemato-Oncology, Erbil 44001, Iraq
| | - Yozo Nakazawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
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Fang J, Tan TX, Ferron E, Ge LJ. Age predicts likelihood for surgery for pediatric tbi: an analysis of 1745 hospitlizations from a Chinese Children's Hospital. Childs Nerv Syst 2023; 39:2487-2492. [PMID: 37145308 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-05975-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We tested the role of age and sex in surgery following pediatric TBI hospitalization. METHODS Records of 1745 children hospitalized at a pediatric neurotrauma center in China included age, sex, cause of injury, diagnosis of injury, days of hospitalization, in-house rehabilitation, Glasgow Coma Scale score, mortality, 6-month post-discharge Glasgow Outcome Scale score, and surgery intervention. The children were 0-13 years (M= 3.56 years; SD = 3.06), with 47.4% 0-2 years of age. RESULTS The mortality rate was 1.49%. Logistic regression on 1027 children with epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, intracerebral hemorrhage, and intraventricular hemorrhage showed that controlling for other variables, the odds for younger children to receive surgery was statistically lower for epidural hematomas (OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.68-0.82), subdural hematomas (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.47-0.74), and intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.28-0.98). CONCLUSIONS While severity of TBI and type of TBI were expected predictors for surgery, a younger age also predicted a significantly lower likelihood of surgery in our sample. Sex of the child was unrelated to surgical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangshun Fang
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Tony Xing Tan
- Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, US.
| | - Emily Ferron
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, NYC, NY, US
| | - Le Jun Ge
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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Fang J, Li Y, Tan TX, Chen K, Yang Z, Cheng Z, Sun Y, Wang N. History of pediatric TBI hospitalization and current child-parent relationship quality in China. Brain Inj 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37128136 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2023.2208882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term child-parent relationship quality following hospitalization for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE We tested whether current child-parent conflict and closeness were related to the children's history of TBI-related experiences and contemporary child/family characteristics. METHODS The sample included 202 Chinese children (Boys: 60.4%) with a history of hospitalization for TBI. On average, the children were 11.2 years old (SD = 1.59) and sustained TBI at 8.5 years old (SD = 1.6). TBI-related data were obtained from hospital medical records. Parents provided data on child-parent closeness, child-parent conflict, and parental efficacy 2-4 years (M = 2.7, SD = 0.7) after discharge. RESULTS Forty-nine children (24.3%) had mild TBI, 139 (68.8%) had moderate TBI, and 14 (6.9%) had severe TBI. Surgical intervention occurred among 128 (63.4%) of the 202 children. Contemporaneous child and family characteristics explained 19% of the variance, history of surgery, length of hospitalization, and recovery status explained another 7%, and the interaction between length of hospitalization and parental efficacy explained another 4% in child-parent conflict. Contemporaneous child and family characteristics explained 29% of the variance, and TBI-related variables explained another 2% in child-parent closeness. CONCLUSION Post-TBI child-parent relationship was more associated with child/family characteristics than with TBI variables. Practitioners and families should be aware of the long-term challenges to child-parent relationship following hospitalization for pediatric TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangshun Fang
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yanzheng Li
- Ideological and Political Research Association, Hebei Geo University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tony Xing Tan
- Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Kewei Chen
- Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, United States
| | - Zhiguo Yang
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhenghai Cheng
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yaning Sun
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
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Satoskar S, Badaki OB, Gielen AC, McDonald EM, Ryan LM. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric emergency department utilization for head injuries. J Investig Med 2022; 70:1416-1422. [PMID: 35545294 PMCID: PMC9130663 DOI: 10.1136/jim-2021-002292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Head injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in children, accounting for numerous emergency department (ED) visits. It is unclear how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced healthcare utilization for pediatric head injuries. We hypothesize that the proportion of ED visits attributable to head injury and severity will increase during the COVID-19 era. Retrospective study using electronic health record data to compare proportion and severity of head injury for children 0-21 years of age from three urban mid-Atlantic EDs in the pre-COVID-19 era (March-June 2019) and COVID-19 era (March-June 2020). Controlling for confounders, logistic regression analyses assessed ORs of head injury outcomes. The χ2 analyses identified differences in patient characteristics. The proportion of head injury visits within the ED population significantly increased during the COVID-19 era (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4). Proportion of visits requiring hospitalization for head injury increased by more than twofold in the COVID-19 era (aOR=2.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.3). Use of head CT imaging did not significantly change in the COVID-19 era (aOR=1.0, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.6). The proportion of ED visits and hospitalizations for head injury increased during the COVID-19 era. This could be due to changes in the level of supervision and risk exposures in the home that occurred during the pandemic, as well as differences in postinjury care, level of awareness regarding injury severity, and threshold for seeking care, all of which may have influenced pediatric healthcare utilization for head injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanika Satoskar
- College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Oluwakemi B Badaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea C Gielen
- Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Eileen M McDonald
- Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leticia M Ryan
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lui A, Kumar KK, Grant GA. Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Pediatric Patients. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:910972. [PMID: 35812167 PMCID: PMC9263560 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.910972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The optimal management of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the pediatric population has not been well studied. There are a limited number of research articles studying the management of TBI in children. Given the prevalence of severe TBI in the pediatric population, it is crucial to develop a reference TBI management plan for this vulnerable population. In this review, we seek to delineate the differences between severe TBI management in adults and children. Additionally, we also discuss the known molecular pathogenesis of TBI. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of TBI will inform clinical management and development of therapeutics. Finally, we propose a clinical algorithm for the management and treatment of severe TBI in children using published data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Lui
- Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Vallejo, CA, United States
| | - Kevin K. Kumar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Gerald A. Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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Marchese P, Lardone C, Canepele A, Biondi S, Roggi C, Massart F, Bonuccelli A, Peroni D, Giotta Lucifero A, Luzzi S, Foiadelli T, Orsini A. Pediatric traumatic brain injury: a new relation between outcome and neutrophil-to-lymphocite ratio. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 92:e2021417. [PMID: 35441607 PMCID: PMC9179059 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92is4.12666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Leading causes of death in industrialized countries are traumatic injuries and acquired disability, and entry to the emergency department in childhood. TBI (traumatic brain injury) may involve the onset of both primary lesions and a complex immune response (sterile immune reaction to brain injury), which, in addition to neuro-protective effects, can mediate secondary neurological injury. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as a circulating inflammatory marker, has been related to outcomes in adult patients with non-neurologic diseases (such as gut tumours) or neurologic diseases (such as stroke or brain tumours), and to the prognosis of traumatic brain injury in adolescents and adults. However, the potential role of NLR in predicting outcomes in paediatric head trauma is not clearly defined. The aim of this retrospective observational study is to evaluate the association between clinical features predictive of intracranial and extracranial lesions in TBI and NLR and to establish whether an elevation of NLR is indirectly associated with adverse outcomes in pediatric patients with TBI. We analysed a sample of 219 pediatric patients, between 2-18 years old, after a TBI, and evaluated if differences in NLR were associated with neurological signs or positive CT in pediatric patients. We then compared the NLR values between healthy subjects and patients with TBI. (www.actabiomedica.it)
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Diego Peroni
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Italy.
| | - Alice Giotta Lucifero
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Sabino Luzzi
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Thomas Foiadelli
- Pediatric Clinic, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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Paediatric patients in mass casualty incidents: a comprehensive review and call to action. Br J Anaesth 2021; 128:e109-e119. [PMID: 34862001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The paediatric population is disproportionately affected during mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Several unique characteristics of children merit special attention during natural and man-made disasters because of their age, physiology, and vulnerability. Paediatric anaesthesiologists play a critical part of MCI care for this population, yet there is a deficit of publications within the anaesthesia literature addressing paediatric-specific MCI concerns. This narrative review article analyses paediatric MCI considerations and compares differing aspects between care provision in Australia, the UK, and the USA. We integrate some of the potential roles for anaesthesiologists with paediatric experience, which include preparation, command consultation, in-field care, pre-hospital transport duties, and emergency department, operating theatre, and ICU opportunities. Finally, we propose several methods by which anaesthesiologists can improve their contribution to paediatric MCI care through personal education, training, and institutional involvement.
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Keane OA, Escobar MA, Neff LP, Mitchell IC, Chern JJ, Santore MT. Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Who Can Be Managed at a Non-pediatric Trauma Center Hospital? A Systematic Review of the Literature. Am Surg 2021; 88:447-454. [PMID: 34734550 DOI: 10.1177/00031348211050804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects about 475,000 children in the United States annually. Studies from the 1990s showed worse mortality in pediatric TBI patients not transferred to a pediatric trauma center (PTC), but did not examine mild pediatric TBI. Evidence-based guidelines used to identify children with clinically insignificant TBI who do not require head CT were developed by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). However, which patients can be safely observed at a non-PTC is not directly addressed. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was conducted, focusing on management of pediatric TBI and transfer decisions from 1990 to 2020. RESULTS Pediatric TBI patients make up a great majority of preventable transfers and admissions, and comprise a significant portion of avoidable costs to the health care system. Majority of mild TBI patients admitted to a PTC following transfer do not require ICU care, surgical intervention, or additional imaging. Studies have shown that as high as 83% of mild pediatric TBI patients are discharged within 24 hrs. CONCLUSIONS An evidence-based clinical practice algorithm was derived through synthesis of the data reviewed to guide transfer decision. The papers discussed in our systematic review largely concluded that transfer and admission was unnecessary and costly in pediatric patients with mild TBI who met the following criteria: blunt, no concern for NAT, low risk on PECARN assessment, or intermediate risk on PECARN with negative imaging or imaging with either isolated, nondisplaced skull fractures without ICH and/or EDH, or SDH <0.3 cm with no midline shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia A Keane
- Department of Surgery, 1371Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mauricio A Escobar
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, 547254Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Lucas P Neff
- 12279Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Ian C Mitchell
- Departments of Surgery, 14742University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Baylor College of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Joshua J Chern
- Department of Neurosurgery, 1371Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
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