Angiographic embolization is safe and effective therapy for blunt abdominal solid organ injury in children

Blunt Trauma in Children: Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Embolization, 10-Year Experiences in a Single Trauma Center

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is an established approach for controlling hemorrhage in adults with acute abdominal and pelvic trauma. However, its application in pediatric trauma is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TAE in a population of pediatric patients with blunt trauma.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in pediatric patients (<18 years) who underwent TAE for blunt trauma between February 2014 and July 2022. The patients were categorized into subgroups based on age and body weight. Patient demographics, injury severity, transfusion requirements, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Exactly 73 patients underwent TAE. Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%), and clinical success was achieved in 83.6%. The mortality and complication rates were 4.1% and 1.4%, respectively. The mean duration of hospitalization was 19.3 days. Subgroup analysis showed that age, body weight, and sex did not significantly affect clinical success. The injury severity score and transfusion requirement were predictors of clinical success, with lower values associated with better outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

TAE is effective and safe for managing blunt pediatric trauma in younger and lighter patients. Injury severity and transfusion requirement are predictors of clinical success.

Management of Adult Blunt Renal Injury: A 10-Year Retrospective Review at a Single Institution

Purpose: Renal injury occurs in up to 5% of trauma cases and the kidney is the third most wounded abdominal organ. The study objective was to analyze clinical characteristics of patients with blunt renal trauma and review the treatment of high-grade blunt renal injuries.Methods: The medical charts of trauma patients who visited Haeundae Paik Hospital between March 2010 and February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Data on demographics, injury patterns, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were analyzed.Results: A total of 68 patients with renal trauma were included in this study. The most common renal injury was Grade III (<i>n</i> = 27, 39.7%). Falling was the predominant mechanism of injury (<i>n</i> = 33, 48.5%), and 23.5% (<i>n</i> = 16) of patients sustained isolated renal trauma. Organ damage related to kidney injury included chest injury (57.4%, <i>n</i> = 39) and abdominal or pelvic content injury (48.5%, <i>n</i> = 33). The overall mortality rate was 2.9% (<i>n</i> = 2). There were 45 cases of high-grade renal trauma (AAST Kidney injury scale Grade Ш-V). There was no statistical difference in the outcomes of high-grade (<i>n</i> = 44, 97.8%) and low-grade (<i>n</i> = 23, 100%) renal trauma patients who received nonoperative treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.511). Variables did not differ significantly, except for the injury severity score which was statistically significantly different between low-grade and high-grade renal trauma patients (<i>p</i> = 0.001).Conclusion: Most patients with traumatic renal injury, even those with high-grade injury, can be managed by nonoperative treatment, and have a good prognosis.

[Hemostasis for central rupture of liver in a child]

Blunt abdominal trauma in children accompanied by liver damage occurs in 18-20% of cases. Endovascular embolization is the most common approach for bleeding following central ruptures of liver. Foreign authors published few case reports devoted to successful embolization for central liver ruptures in children. In Russian-language literature, there is one similar report with complicated postoperative period. We present a child with class II blunt liver injury, marginal rupture and central hematoma. The patients underwent suturing of marginal rupture and endovascular embolization without postoperative complications.

Endovascular embolization in renal trauma: a narrative review

Approximately 1–3% of all trauma patients have a renal injury. Eighty percent of renal trauma is due to blunt injury, with the remainder due to penetrating trauma which is most often iatrogenic. Contrast enhanced computed tomography is used to triage patients and offers a quick and accurate assessment of any potential organ injury. If injury is present, The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading system can both grade renal injuries and be used to help guide management and intervention. Grades are assigned based on imaging and clinical features of renal trauma, and have prognostic and treatment implications for patients. The objective of this narrative review is to identify optimal management of patients with renal trauma, specifically which patients can be treated with endovascular interventions following renal trauma, which can be observed, and which would be best managed surgically. For hemodynamically stable patients with renal trauma, endovascular angiography and embolization is a non-invasive approach that can be used to control bleeding and potentially avoid surgery or nephrectomy in select cases. Future research is needed to determine if a specific antibiotic regimen is needed prior to or following embolization. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular management of high-grade renal trauma (grade V). Complications of renal embolization include short-term hypertension, long term hypertension in cases of significant ischemia, acute kidney injury, and infection.

Predictors of surgical management of high grade blunt splenic injuries in adult trauma patients: a 5-year retrospective cohort study from an academic level I trauma center

Backgrounds

Splenic injury accounts for 40% of all injuries after blunt abdominal trauma. Blunt splenic injury in hemodynamically unstable patients is preferably treated by splenectomy. Nowadays hemodynamically stable patients with low grade splenic injuries are mostly treated by non-operative management (NOM). However no consensus exists about the management of high grade splenic injuries in hemodynamically stable patients. Therefore the aim of this study was to analyze patients with high grade splenic injuries in our institution.

Methods

We retrospectively included all patients with a splenic injury presented to our level I trauma center during the 5-year period from January 1, 2012, until December 31, 2017. Baseline characteristics, data regarding complications and mortality were collected from the electronic patient registry. Patients were grouped based on splenic injury and the treatment they received.

Results

A total of 123 patients were included, of which 93 (75.6%) were male with a median age of 31 (24–52) and a median injury severity score of 27 (17–34). High grade injuries (n = 28) consisted of 20 Grade IV injuries and 8 grade V injuries. Splenectomy was required in 15/28 (53.6%) patients, of whom all remained hemodynamically unstable after resuscitation, including all grade V injuries. A total of 13 patients with high grade injuries were treated with spleen preserving therapy. Seven of these patients received angio-embolization. One patient went for laparotomy and the spleen was treated with a hemostatic agent. Secondary hemorrhage was present in 3 of these patients (initial treatment: 1 embolization/ 2 observational), resulting in a success rate of 76.9%. There is no mortality seen in patient with high grade splenic injuries.

Conclusion

Non-operative treatment in high grade splenic injuries is a safe treatment modality in hemodynamically stable patients. Hemodynamic status and peroperative bleeding, not injury severity or splenic injury grade were the drivers for surgical management by splenectomy. This selected cohort of patients must be closely monitored to prevent adverse outcomes from secondary delayed bleeding in case of non-operative management.

Defining the role of angioembolization in pediatric isolated blunt solid organ injury

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence and outcomes of angiography in pediatric patients with blunt solid organ injury (SOI).

METHODS

The National Trauma Data Bank (2010-2014) was queried for patients ≤19 years who experienced isolated blunt SOI. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate characteristics associated with radiological and surgical intervention.

RESULTS

Patients with isolated blunt injuries to the spleen (n = 7542), liver (n = 4549), and kidney (n = 2640) were identified. Use of angiography increased yearly from 1.6% to 3.1% of cases (p = 0.001) and was associated with older age (OR 2.61 [CI: 1.94-3.50], p < 0.001) and grade III or higher injury (OR 4.63 [CI: 3.11-6.90], p < 0.001). Odds of angiography were 4.9 times higher at adult trauma centers (TCs) than pediatric TCs overall, and almost 9 times higher for isolated splenic trauma (p < 0.001 for each). There was no improvement in splenic salvage after angiography for high grade injuries (3.5% vs. 4.8%, p = NS). Only 1.8% of cases began within 30 min of arrival (median time = 3.6 h).

CONCLUSION

Variability exists in the utilization of angiography in pediatric blunt SOI between adult and pediatric TCs, with no improvement in splenic salvage.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III - Treatment study.

Liver trauma: WSES 2020 guidelines

Liver injuries represent one of the most frequent life-threatening injuries in trauma patients. In determining the optimal management strategy, the anatomic injury, the hemodynamic status, and the associated injuries should be taken into consideration. Liver trauma approach may require non-operative or operative management with the intent to restore the homeostasis and the normal physiology. The management of liver trauma should be multidisciplinary including trauma surgeons, interventional radiologists, and emergency and ICU physicians. The aim of this paper is to present the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) liver trauma management guidelines.

Contemporary Management of Hepatic Trauma: What IRs Need to Know

Trauma remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States in patients younger than 45 years. Blunt trauma is most commonly a result of high-speed motor vehicular collisions or high-level fall. The liver and spleen are the most commonly injured organs, with the liver being the most commonly injured organ in adults and the spleen being the most affected in pediatric blunt trauma. Liver injuries incur a high level of morbidity and mortality mostly secondary to hemorrhage. Over the past 20 years, angiographic intervention has become a mainstay of treatment of hepatic trauma. As there is an increasing need for the interventional radiologists to embolize active hemorrhage in the setting of blunt and penetrating hepatic trauma, this article aims to review the current level of evidence and contemporary management of hepatic trauma from the perspective of interventional radiologists. Embolization techniques and associated outcome and complications are also reviewed.

Management of pediatric blunt abdominal trauma in a Dutch level one trauma center

Purpose

Most children with intra-abdominal injuries can be managed non-operatively. However, in Europe, there are many different healthcare systems for the treatment of pediatric trauma patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the management strategies and outcomes of all pediatric patients with blunt intra-abdominal injuries in our unique dedicated pediatric trauma center with a pediatric trauma surgeon.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, single-center, cohort study to investigate the management of pediatric patients with blunt abdominal trauma. From the National Trauma Registration database, we retrospectively identified pediatric (≤ 18 years) patients with blunt abdominal injuries admitted to the UMCU from January 2012 till January 2018.

Results

A total of 121 pediatric patients were included in the study. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] age of patients was 12 (8–16) years, and the median ISS was 16 (9–25). High-grade liver injuries were found in 12 patients. Three patients had a pancreas injury grade V. Furthermore, 2 (1.6%) patients had urethra injuries and 10 (8.2%) hollow viscus injuries were found. Eighteen (14.9%) patients required a laparotomy and 4 (3.3%) patients underwent angiographic embolization. In 6 (5.0%) patients, complications were found and in 4 (3.3%) children intervention was needed for their complication. No mortality was seen in patients treated non-operatively. One patient died in the operative management group.

Conclusions

In conclusion, it is safe to treat most children with blunt abdominal injuries non-operatively if monitoring is adequate. These decisions should be made by the clinicians operating on these children, who should be an integral part of the entire group of treating physicians. Surgical interventions are only needed in case of hemodynamic instability or specific injuries such as bowel perforation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00068-020-01313-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Kidney and uro-trauma: WSES-AAST guidelines

Renal and urogenital injuries occur in approximately 10-20% of abdominal trauma in adults and children. Optimal management should take into consideration the anatomic injury, the hemodynamic status, and the associated injuries. The management of urogenital trauma aims to restore homeostasis and normal physiology especially in pediatric patients where non-operative management is considered the gold standard. As with all traumatic conditions, the management of urogenital trauma should be multidisciplinary including urologists, interventional radiologists, and trauma surgeons, as well as emergency and ICU physicians. The aim of this paper is to present the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) kidney and urogenital trauma management guidelines.

Non-operative management of solid organ injuries in children: An American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Evidence Based Practice Committee systematic review

PURPOSE

The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) guidelines for the treatment of isolated solid organ injury (SOI) in children were published in 2000 and have been widely adopted. The aim of this systematic review by the APSA Outcomes and Evidence Based Practice Committee was to evaluate the published evidence regarding treatment of solid organ injuries in children.

METHODS

A comprehensive search strategy was crafted and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized to identify, review, and report salient articles. Four principal questions were examined based upon the previously published consensus APSA guidelines regarding length of stay (LOS), activity level, interventional radiologic procedures, and follow-up imaging. A literature search was performed including multiple databases from 1996 to 2016.

RESULTS

LOS for children with isolated solid organ injuries should be based upon clinical findings and may not be related to grade of injury. Total LOS may be less than recommended by the previously published APSA guidelines. Restricting activity to grade of injury plus two weeks is safe but shorter periods of activity restriction have not been adequately studied. Prophylactic embolization of SOI in stable patients with image-confirmed arterial extravasation is not indicated and should be reserved for patients with evidence of ongoing bleeding. Routine follow-up imaging for asymptomatic, uncomplicated, low-grade injured children with abdominal blunt trauma is not warranted. Limited data are available to support the need for follow-up imaging for high grade injuries.

CONCLUSION

Based upon review of the recent literature, we recommend an update to the current APSA guidelines that includes: hospital length of stay based on physiology, shorter activity restrictions may be safe, minimizing post-injury imaging for lower injury grades and embolization only in patients with evidence of ongoing hemorrhage.

TYPE OF STUDY

Systematic Review.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Levels 2-4.

Advantages of early intervention with arterial embolization for intra-abdominal solid organ injuries in children

PURPOSE

Active bleeding due to abdominal trauma is an important cause of mortality in childhood. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the advantages of early percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization (PTAE) procedures in children with intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to blunt trauma.

METHODS

Children with blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively included. Two groups were identified for inclusion: patients with early embolization (EE group, n=10) and patients with late embolization (LE group, n=11). Both groups were investigated retrospectively and statistically analyzed with regard to lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital, first enteral feeding after trauma, blood transfusion requirements, and cost.

RESULTS

The duration of stay in the intensive care unit was greater in the LE group than in the EE group (4 days vs. 2 days, respectively). The duration of hospital stay was greater in the LE group than in the EE group (14 days vs. 6 days, respectively). Blood transfusion requirements (15 cc/kg of RBC packs) were greater in the LE group than in the EE group (3 vs. 1, respectively). The total hospital cost was higher in the LE group than in the EE group (4502 USD vs. 1371.5 USD, respectively). The time before starting enteral feeding after first admission was higher in the LE group than in the EE group (4 days vs. 1 day, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Early embolization with PTAE results in shorter intensive care and hospitalization stays, earlier enteral feeding, and lower hospital costs for pediatric patients with intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to blunt trauma.

Pelvic angiography is effective for emergency pediatric patients with pelvic fractures: a propensity-score-matching study with a nationwide trauma registry in Japan

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the implementation of pelvic angiography (PA) and outcome in emergency pediatric patients with pelvic fracture.

Methods

We extracted data on pelvic fracture patients aged ≤ 19 years between 2004 and 2015 from a nationwide trauma registry in Japan. The main outcome was hospital mortality. We assessed the relationship between implementation of PA and hospital mortality using one-to-one propensity-score-matching analysis to reduce potential confounding effects in comparing the PA group with the non-PA group.

Results

In total, 1351 patients were eligible for our analysis, with 221 patients (16.4%) included in the PA group and 1130 patients (83.6%) included in the non-PA group. For all patients, the proportion of hospital mortality was higher in the PA group than in the non-PA group [13.6% (30/221) vs 7.1% (80/1130), crude odds ratio (OR) 2.062 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.318–3.224); p = 0.002]. In the propensity-score-matched patients, the proportion of hospital mortality was lower in the PA group than in the non-PA group [10.5% (22/200) vs 18.2% (38/200), p = 0.027]. This finding was confirmed in both the multivariable logistic regression model [adjusted OR 0.392 (95% CI, 0.171–0.896); p = 0.026] and the conditional logistic regression model [conditional OR 0.484 (95% CI, 0.261–0.896); p = 0.021].

Conclusion

The implementation of PA was significantly associated with lower hospital mortality among emergency pediatric patients with pelvic fractures compared with the non-implementation of PA.

Pediatric blunt renal trauma practice management guidelines: Collaboration between the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Pediatric Trauma Society

BACKGROUND

Injury to the kidney from either blunt or penetrating trauma is the most common urinary tract injury. Children are at higher risk of renal injury from blunt trauma than adults, but no pediatric renal trauma guidelines have been established. The authors reviewed the literature to guide clinicians in the appropriate methods of management of pediatric renal trauma.

METHODS

Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used to aid with the development of these evidence-based practice management guidelines. A systematic review of the literature including citations published between 1990 and 2016 was performed. Fifty-one articles were used to inform the statements presented in the guidelines. When possible, a meta-analysis with forest plots was created, and the evidence was graded.

RESULTS

When comparing nonoperative management versus operative management in hemodynamically stable pediatric patient with blunt renal trauma, evidence suggests that there is a reduced rate of renal loss and blood transfusion in patients managed nonoperatively. We found that in pediatric patients with high-grade American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade III-V (AAST III-V) renal injuries and ongoing bleeding or delayed bleeding, angioembolization has a decreased rate of renal loss compared with surgical intervention. We found the rate of posttraumatic renal hypertension to be 4.2%.

CONCLUSION

Based on the completed meta-analyses and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation profile, we are making the following recommendations: (1) In pediatric patients with blunt renal trauma of all grades, we strongly recommend nonoperative management versus operative management in hemodynamically stable patients. (2) In hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with high-grade (AAST grade III-V) renal injuries, we strongly recommend angioembolization versus surgical intervention for ongoing or delayed bleeding. (3) In pediatric patients with renal trauma, we strongly recommend routine blood pressure checks to diagnose hypertension. This review of the literature reveals limitations and the need for additional research on diagnosis and management of pediatric renal trauma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Guidelines study, level III.

Renal artery embolization in a child with delayed hemodynamic instability from penetrating knife wound

Penetrating laceration injury in the pediatric population may present as an acute or delayed life-threatening injury. Although emergent intra-arterial embolization is commonly utilized in adults, few cases have been reported for children. Surgical treatment for severe renal laceration injuries may require complete nephrectomy; an unfortunate outcome for a pediatric patient if a renal-preserving alternative is feasible. We present a case of penetrating renal laceration in a 10-year-old boy treated with intra-arterial embolization of the lacerated dominant renal artery and subsequent renal perfusion by an uninjured accessory renal artery allowing for renal preservation.

Splenic trauma: WSES classification and guidelines for adult and pediatric patients

Spleen injuries are among the most frequent trauma-related injuries. At present, they are classified according to the anatomy of the injury. The optimal treatment strategy, however, should keep into consideration the hemodynamic status, the anatomic derangement, and the associated injuries. The management of splenic trauma patients aims to restore the homeostasis and the normal physiopathology especially considering the modern tools for bleeding management. Thus, the management of splenic trauma should be ultimately multidisciplinary and based on the physiology of the patient, the anatomy of the injury, and the associated lesions. Lastly, as the management of adults and children must be different, children should always be treated in dedicated pediatric trauma centers. In fact, the vast majority of pediatric patients with blunt splenic trauma can be managed non-operatively. This paper presents the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) classification of splenic trauma and the management guidelines.

The use of angiography in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Angiography is a common treatment used in adults with blunt abdominal trauma and/or severe pelvic fractures. The Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons has recently advocated for this resource to be urgently available at pediatric trauma centers; however, its usefulness in the pediatric setting is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of angiography in the treatment of blunt abdominal trauma among injured children.

METHODS

An analysis was performed using an established public use data set of children (younger than 18 years) treated at 20 participating trauma centers for blunt torso trauma through the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. Patients who underwent angiography of the abdomen or pelvis were identified and analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 12,044 children evaluated for blunt abdominal trauma included within the data set, 973 sustained abdominopelvic injuries. Of these, only 26 (3%) underwent angiography. The median age was 14 years, 65% were males, with a mortality rate of 19%. Overall, 29 angiographic procedures were performed: 21 abdominal, 8 pelvic, with 3 patients undergoing both abdominal and pelvic. Eleven patients underwent embolization of a bleeding vessel, all of which were related to the spleen. No hepatic, renal, or pelvic vessels required embolization. The median time to angiography from emergency department evaluation was 7.3 hours. In addition to angiography, 50% also required surgical intervention, of which 31% underwent a laparotomy. Thirty-five percent of these patients required blood product transfusion, and 42% were admitted to the intensive care unit.

CONCLUSION

The emergent use of angiography with embolization is uncommon in pediatric patients with blunt abdominal injuries. The requirement that pediatric trauma centers have access to interventional radiology within 30 minutes may be unnecessary.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

Surgical intervention for paediatric liver injuries is almost history - a 12-year cohort from a major Scandinavian trauma centre

Background

Although nonoperative management (NOM) has become standard care, optimal treatment of liver injuries in children is still challenging since many of these patients have multiple injuries. Moreover, the role of angiography remains poorly defined, and a high index of suspicion of complications is warranted. This study reviews treatment and outcomes in children with liver injuries at a major Scandinavian trauma centre over a 12-year period.

Methods

Patients <17 years old with liver injury admitted to Oslo University Hospital Ullevaal during the period 2002-2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were compiled from the institutional trauma registry and medical records.

Results

A total of 66 children were included. The majority was severely injured as reflected by a median injury severity score of 20.5 (mean 22.2). NOM was attempted in 60 (90.9%) patients and was successful in 57, resulting in a NOM success rate of 95.0% [95% CI 89.3 to 100]. Only one of the three NOM failures was liver related, occurred in the early part of the study period, and consisted in operative placement of drains for bile leak. Two (3.0%) patients underwent angiographic embolization (AE). Complications occurred in 18 (27.3% [95 % CI 16.2 to 38.3]) patients. Only 2 (3.0%) patients had liver related complications, in both cases bile leak. Six (9.1%) patients underwent therapeutic laparotomy for non-liver related injuries. Two (3.0%) patients died secondary to traumatic brain injury.

Discussion

This single institution paediatric liver injury cohort confirms high attempted NOM and NOM success rates even in patients with high grade injuries and multiple accompanying injuries. AE can be a useful NOM adjunct in the treatment of paediatric liver injuries, but is seldom indicated. Moreover, bile leak is the most common liver-related complication and the need for liver-related surgery is very infrequent.

Conclusion

NOM is the treatment of choice in almost all liver injuries in children, with operative management and interventional radiology very infrequently indicated.

Staged laparotomies based on the damage control principle to treat hemodynamically unstable grade IV blunt hepatic injury in an eight-year-old girl

BACKGROUND

Severe blunt hepatic injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients. Damage control (DC) surgery has been reported to be useful in severely compromised children with hepatic injury. We applied such a technique in the treatment of a case of hemodynamically unstable grade IV blunt hepatic injury in an eight-year-old girl. This case is the first to use multimodal approaches including perihepatic packing, temporary closure of the abdominal wall with a plastic sheet, transarterial embolization (TAE), and planned delayed anatomical hepatic resection in a child.

CASE PRESENTATION

An eight-year-old girl was run over by a motor vehicle and transferred to the emergency department of the local hospital. Her diagnoses were severe blunt hepatic injury (grade IV) with left femoral trochanteric fracture. No other organ injuries were observed. Because her hemodynamic state was stable under aggressive fluid resuscitation, she was transferred to our hospital for surgical management. On arrival at our institution about 4 h after the injury, her hemodynamic condition became unstable. Abdominal compartment syndrome also became apparent. Because her condition had deteriorated and the lethal triad of low BT, coagulopathy, and acidosis was observed, a DC treatment strategy was selected. First, emergent laparotomy was performed for gauze-packing hemostasis to control intractable bleeding from the liver bed, and the abdomen was temporarily closed with a plastic sheet with continuous negative pressure aspiration. Transarterial embolization of the posterior branch of the right hepatic artery was then carried out immediately after the operation. The lacerated right lobe of the liver was safely resected in a stable hemodynamic condition 2 days after the initial operation. Bleeding from the liver bed ceased without further need of hemostasis. She was transferred to the local hospital without any surgical complications on day 42 after admission. She had returned to her normal life by 3 months after the injury.

CONCLUSION

The DC strategy was found to be effective even in a pediatric patient with hemodynamically unstable severe blunt hepatic injury. The presence of the deadly triad (hypothermia, coagulopathy, and acidosis) and abdominal compartment syndrome was an indication for DC surgery.

Management of pediatric blunt renal trauma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Blunt trauma remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. The use of conservative management for blunt renal trauma is widely accepted in adult trauma literature and is now increasingly accepted for use in the pediatric patient population. This study aimed to review current practices in pediatric blunt renal trauma management and to highlight current practices in conservative protocols, success rates of conservative management strategies, as well as short- and long-term outcomes of blunt renal trauma management.

METHODS

This is a systematic review of PubMed, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library. The following search was performed in each of the three databases: (Renal or Kidney) AND (Pediatric or Children) AND Trauma AND Management. Publications were limited to publish date after January 1, 2000. Inclusion criteria were (1) original research articles regarding management of pediatric blunt renal trauma, (2) involvement of cases of high-grade renal (Grades IV and V) trauma, and (3) more than one patient presented per study. Literature reviews and meta-analyses were excluded.

RESULTS

Titles and abstracts (n = 308) were screened to identify scientific articles reporting original research findings. A total of 32 articles met the selection criteria and were included in the review.

CONCLUSION

The literature supports application of conservative management protocols to high-grade blunt pediatric renal trauma. Criteria for early operative intervention are not well understood. At this time, emergent operative intervention only for hemodynamic instability is recommended. Minimally invasive interventions including angioembolization, stenting, and percutaneous drainage should be used when indicated. Short- and long-term outcomes are favorable when using conservative management approaches to Grade IV and V renal injuries. Further studies including prospective studies and randomized control trials are necessary. Cost analyses of current treatment protocols are also necessary to guide efficient management strategies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review, level III.

Management of Abdominal Solid Organ Injury After Blunt Trauma

Injury to the solid abdominal organs-liver, spleen, kidney, and pancreas-is one of the most common injury patterns in pediatric blunt trauma. Pediatric trauma centers are becoming increasingly successful in managing these injuries without operative intervention. Well-validated guidelines have been established for liver and spleen injury management, and operative intervention is reserved for patients who show evidence of active bleeding after resuscitation. No such guidelines yet exist for the management of traumatic injury of the kidney or pancreas. Exploratory laparotomy remains the treatment of choice in patients suffering hemodynamic collapse, but interventional radiologic or endoscopic procedures are increasingly used to manage all but the most devastating solid organ injuries. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(7):e241-e246.].

The role of interventional radiology in abdominopelvic trauma

The management of trauma patients has evolved in recent decades owing to increasing availability of advanced imaging modalities such as CT. Nowadays, CT has replaced the diagnostic function of angiography. The latter is considered when a therapeutic option is hypothesized. Arterial embolization is a life-saving procedure in abdominopelvic haemorrhagic patients, reducing relevant mortality rates and ensuring haemodynamic stabilization of the patient. Percutaneous transarterial embolization has been shown to be effective for controlling ongoing bleeding for patients with high-grade abdominopelvic injuries, thereby reducing the failure rate of non-operative management, preserving maximal organ function. Surgery is not always the optimal solution for stabilization of a patient with polytrauma. Mini-invasivity and repeatability may be considered as relevant advantages. We review technical considerations, efficacy and complication rates of hepatic, splenic, renal and pelvic embolization to extrapolate current evidence about transarterial embolization in traumatic patients.

The role of interventional radiology for pediatric blunt renal trauma

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to appraise the role of interventional radiology in children with blunt renal trauma.

METHODS

The clinical data, injury severity score, days of hospital stay, outcomes and complications of pediatric renal trauma were recorded and evaluated. The two groups: the transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) group and the non-TAE group were compared for clinical features and laboratory data.

RESULTS

Eighteen pediatric patients (12 boys, 6 girls with average age 12.4 ± 4.7 years) with blunt renal injury were included in the study. Six patients underwent angiography because of contrast medium extravasations in the kidney found on computed tomography of which four subsequently underwent a TAE. The clinical features and laboratory data of patients in the TAE and non-TAE groups were not significantly different. All patients were managed successfully by conservative treatment without complications except one in the non-TAE group who required nephrectomy due to renal arterial hypertension directly related to trauma. Both groups had relatively good results and all patients had normal renal function at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

TAE is an alternative therapeutic modality for blunt renal injury in children who have contrast medium extravasations in the kidney on angiography.

Management of children with solid organ injuries after blunt torso trauma

BACKGROUND

Management of children with intra-abdominal solid organ injuries has evolved markedly. We describe the current management of children with intra-abdominal solid organ injuries after blunt trauma in a large multicenter network.

METHODS

We performed a planned secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter observational study of children (<18 years) with blunt torso trauma. We included children with spleen, liver, or kidney injuries identified by computed tomography, laparotomy/laparoscopy, or autopsy. Outcomes included disposition and interventions (blood transfusion for intra-abdominal hemorrhage, angiography, laparotomy/laparoscopy). We performed subanalyses of children with isolated injuries.

RESULTS

A total of 12,044 children were enrolled; 605 (5.0%) had intra-abdominal solid organ injuries. The mean (SD) age was 10.7 (5.1) years, and injured organs included spleen 299 (49.4%), liver 282 (46.6%), and kidney 147 (24.3%). Intraperitoneal fluid was identified on computed tomography in 461 (76%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 73-80%), and isolated solid organ injuries were present in 418 (69%; 95% CI, 65-73%). Treatment included therapeutic laparotomy in 17 (4.1%), angiographic embolization in 6 (1.4%), and blood transfusion in 46 (11%) patients. Laparotomy rates for isolated injury were 11 (5.4%) of 205 (95% CI, 2.7-9.4%) at non-freestanding children's hospitals and 6 (2.8%) of 213 (95% CI, 1.0-6.0%) at freestanding children's hospitals (difference, 2.6%; 95% CI, -7.1% to 12.2%). Dispositions of the 212 children with isolated Grade I or II organ injuries were home in 6 (3%), emergency department observation in 9 (4%), ward in 114 (54%), intensive care unit in 73 (34%), operating suite in 7 (3%), and transferred in 3 (1%) patients. Intensive care unit admission for isolated Grade I or II injuries varied by center from 9% to 73%.

CONCLUSION

Most children with solid organ injuries are managed with observation. Blood transfusion, while uncommon, is the most frequent therapeutic intervention; angiographic embolization and laparotomy are uncommon. Emergency department disposition of children with isolated Grade I to II solid organ injuries is highly variable and often differs from published guidelines.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

Comparative effectiveness of treatment strategies for severe splenic trauma in the pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Splenic angioembolization (SAE) is increasingly used in the management of splenic injuries in adults, although its value in pediatric trauma is unclear. We sought to assess outcomes related to splenectomy vs SAE.

METHODS

The National Trauma Data Bank was queried for patients 0 to 15 years of age from 2007 to 2011. Subgroup analysis of splenectomy vs SAE was performed for high-grade injuries using propensity analysis and inverse probability weighting.

RESULTS

Of 11,694 children presenting with splenic trauma, over 90% were treated nonoperatively. Adjusted analysis of high-grade injuries included 265 children who underwent splenectomy and 199 who underwent SAE. The Injury Severity Score, number of transfusions, and complications rates were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Overall adjusted mortality for children with high-grade injuries was 13.4% following splenectomy and 10.0% following SAE (P = .31) CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing SAE for high-grade splenic trauma have comparable morbidity and mortality with splenectomy.

Blunt Spleen and Liver Trauma

Blunt abdominal trauma is an important cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. The spleen and liver are the most common abdominal organs injured. Trauma to either organ can result in life-threatening bleeding. Controversy exists regarding which patients should be imaged and the correct imaging modality depending on the level of clinical suspicion for injury. Nonoperative management of blunt abdominal trauma is the standard of care for hemodynamically stable patients. However, the optimal protocol to maximize patient safety while minimizing resource utilization is a matter of debate. Adjunctive therapies for pediatric spleen and liver trauma are also an area of ongoing research. A review of the current literature on the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of pediatric spleen and liver blunt trauma is presented.

Blunt Renal Trauma

The pediatric patient is especially prone to blunt renal trauma due to the size and location of pediatric kidneys. No clear guidelines have been established for the management of these injuries in children to achieve the highest rate of renal salvage with low morbidity. Wide-ranging literature exists on this subject, but consists of vastly different management strategies. This review is written to summarize the different approaches to blunt renal trauma and highlight opportunities for further research.

Outcomes and indications for intervention in non-operative management of paediatric liver trauma: a 5 year retrospective study

AIM

To determine the applicability of accurate computed tomography (CT) evaluation and embolization as non-operative management for liver trauma in a paediatric population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective observational study of 37 children (mean age 10.5 years) with hepatic trauma (28 blunt, 9 penetrating) admitted to a trauma referral centre over a 5 year period. All patients were evaluated with CT and scored with an Association for the Surgery of Trauma score. Inpatient information was reviewed for demographics, associated injuries, modes of management, efficacy and complications of management, and outcome.Statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

There were seven contusions, two grade I, two grade II, nine grade III, and 17 grade IV liver lacerations. Only two patients (grade IV, penetrating) underwent surgery for the management of bowel perforation. All children had non-surgical treatment of their liver trauma: three cases (grade IV) had primary angiography due to CT evidence of active bleeding and embolization was performed in two of these. Seven patients (two grade III, five grade IV)had angiography during the follow-up for evidence of a complicating pseudoaneurysm and embolization was performed in six of them. Embolization was successful in all the children; one minor complication occurred (cholecystitis). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plus stenting was performed in two cases for a bile leak. All 37 children had a positive outcome.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that non-operative management of hepatic trauma is applicable to children and may have a higher success rate than in adults.

Preserved function after angioembolisation of splenic injury in children and adolescents: a case control study

BACKGROUND

Non-operative management for blunt splenic injuries was introduced to reduce the risk of overwhelming post splenectomy infection in children. To increase splenic preservation rates, splenic artery embolization (SAE) was added to our institutional treatment protocol in 2002. In the presence of clinical signs of ongoing bleeding, SAE was considered also in children. To our knowledge, the long term splenic function after SAE performed in the paediatric population has not been evaluated and constitutes the aim of the present study.

METHODS

A total of 11 SAE patients less than 17 years of age at the time of injury were included with 11 healthy volunteers serving as matched controls. Clinical examination, medical history, general blood counts, immunoglobulin quantifications and flowcytometric analysis of lymphocyte phenotypes were performed. Peripheral blood smears were examined for Howell-Jolly bodies (H-J bodies) and abdominal ultrasound was performed in order to assess the size and perfusion of the spleen.

RESULTS

On average 4.6 years after SAE (range 1-8 years), no significant differences could be detected between the SAE patients and their controls. Total and Pneumococcus serospecific immunoglobulins and H-J bodies did not differ between the study groups, nor did general blood counts and lymphocyte numbers, including memory B cell proportions. The ultrasound examinations revealed normal sized and well perfused spleens in the SAE patients when compared to their controls.

CONCLUSION

This case control study indicates preserved splenic function after SAE for splenic injury in children. Mandatory immunization to prevent severe infections does not seem warranted.

Splenic artery embolisation in children and adolescents--an 8 year experience

BACKGROUND

Non-operative management (NOM) is the treatment of choice in blunt splenic injuries in the paediatric population, with reported success rates exceeding 90%. Splenic artery embolisation (SAE) was added to our institutional treatment protocol for splenic injury in 2002. We wanted to review indications for SAE and the clinical outcome of splenic injury management in children admitted between August 1, 2002 and July 31, 2010.

METHODS

Patients aged <17 years with splenic injury were identified in the institutional trauma and medical code registries. Patient charts and computed tomographic (CT) scans were reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 72 children and adolescents with splenic injury included during the 8 year study period, 66 patients (92%) were treated non-operatively and six underwent operative management. Severe splenic injury (OIS grade 3-5) was diagnosed in 67 patients (93%). SAE was performed in 22 of the NOM patients. Indications for SAE included - bleeding (n=8), pseudoaneurysms (n=2), contrast extravasation (n=2), high OIS injury grade (n=8) and prophylactic due to specific disease (n=2). NOM was successful in all but one case (98%). For the patients aged ≤ 14 years, extravasation on initial CT scan correlated to delayed bleeding (p<0.001). Two SAE procedure specific complications were registered, but resolved without significant sequelae.

CONCLUSION

After SAE was added to the institutional treatment protocol, 22 of 66 NOM paediatric patients underwent SAE. NOM was successful in 98% and a 90% splenic preservation rate was achieved. Contrast extravasation correlated to delayed splenic bleeding in children ≤ 14 years.

Embolization for pediatric blunt splenic injury is an alternative to splenectomy when observation fails

BACKGROUND

Management of splenic injury has shifted from operative to nonoperative management in both children and adults with reports of high success rates. Benefits of splenic conservation include decreased hospital stay, blood transfusion, and mortality, as well as avoidance of infectious complications. Angiography with embolization is an innovative adjunct to nonoperative management and has resulted in increased splenic salvage in adults; however, data in the pediatric population are scant.

METHODS

A retrospective comparative study of a single-hospital trauma registry reviewed from 1999 to 2009. Patients 18 years and younger admitted with injury to the spleen were included. Children with penetrating injury were excluded. Children were divided into three categories by initial treatment: observation, embolization, or splenectomy. Data recorded include age, radiographic grade of injury, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Groups were analyzed for success of initial treatment, requirement for transfusion of packed red blood cells, splenic salvage, and mortality.

RESULTS

Registry review identified 259 children with blunt splenic injury. Initial treatment was observation in 227, embolization in 15, and splenectomy in 17. In the observation group, 9 (4%) of 227 children failed initial treatment; 8 of these underwent embolization, while 1 unerwent splenectomy. In the embolization group, 1 (7%) of 15 failed initial treatment and underwent splenectomy. Blood transfusion was required by 38 (17%) of 227 in the observation group, 6 (40%) of 15 (p = 0.02) in the embolization group, and 15 (88%) of 17 (p < 0.01) in the splenectomy group. Overall splenic salvage rate was 237 (92%) of 259. Three children died in the observation group, and four children died in the splenectomy group. There was no death in the embolization group.

CONCLUSION

Splenic artery embolization for blunt trauma in children is associated with a higher blood transfusion rate compared with observation but offers a safe, intermediate alternative to splenectomy when observation fails.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level IV.

Selective angioembolization for traumatic renal injuries: a survey on clinician practice

PURPOSE

A variety of clinical and imaging findings are used by clinicians to determine utility of renal angioembolization (AE) in managing renal trauma. Our purpose was to investigate specific criteria that clinicians who manage high-grade renal trauma (HGRT) utilize in decision-making for primary or delayed AE.

METHODS

A total of 413 urologists and interventional radiologists (IRs) who practice at level 1 or 2 trauma centers within the United States were provided an original survey via email on experience and opinions regarding the utility of AE for HGRT. We described overall practice patterns and assessed differences by clinician type, using the Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

A total of 79 (20 %) clinicians completed the survey. All clinicians had AE capability for HGRT management. A higher proportion of IRs reported using AE for grade I-II (33 vs. 3 %, p = 0.002), grade III (65 vs. 26 %, p = 0.001), and penetrating injuries (83 vs. 58 %, p = 0.02). A greater proportion of urologists reported using AE for grade V injuries (81 vs. 56 %, p = 0.03). Clinicians most commonly cited computed tomography evidence of active arterial bleeding (97 %), or arteriovenous fistula/pseudoaneurysm (94 %) as indications for primary AE, and 62 % identified concurrent visceral injury as factor that would necessitate surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

In a survey of clinicians, we report that IRs and urologists utilize AE differently when managing HGRT, as a higher proportion of IRs use AE to manage lower grade as well as penetrating injuries. Validation studies are needed to establish algorithms to identify patients with HGRT who would benefit from selective renal AE.

Real-time 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound in detecting hemorrhage of blunt renal trauma

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of real-time 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the hemorrhage of blunt renal trauma.

METHODS

Eighteen healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. Blunt renal trauma was performed on each group by using minitype striker. Ultrasonography, color Doppler flow imaging, and contrast-enhanced 2-dimensional and real-time 3-dimensional ultrasound were applied before and after the strike. The time to shock and blood pressure were subjected to statistical analysis. Then, a comparative study of ultrasound and pathology was carried out.

RESULTS

All the struck kidneys were traumatic. In the ultrasonography, free fluid was found under the renal capsule. In the color Doppler flow imaging, active hemorrhage was not identified. In 2-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound, active hemorrhage of the damaged kidney was characterized. Real-time 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed a real-time and stereoscopic ongoing bleeding of the injured kidney. The wider the hemorrhage area in 4-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound was, the faster the blood pressure decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-time 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a promising noninvasive tool for stereoscopically and vividly detecting ongoing hemorrhage of blunt renal trauma in real time.

Cardiopulmonary bypass after severe blunt hepatic injury: management of multi-system blunt trauma in an adolescent

A 16-year-old adolescent male sustained combined injuries to the tricuspid valve and liver. This injury is exceptional due to the mechanism and the circumstances in which it took place: a flying pumpkin thrown from a sport utility vehicle. An echocardiogram demonstrated a flail chordal apparatus associated with the posterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve, creating substrate for severe tricuspid regurgitation with preserved right heart function. He was treated with non-operative management for the liver injury; he remained hemodynamically stable and was discharged home. He underwent successful repair of the tricuspid valve 17 days following the initial injury necessitating systemic anticoagulation and was discharged home two days later. The patient recovered fully without residual valvular pathology or hepatic sequelae.

Traumatic hepatic artery laceration managed by transarterial embolization in a pediatric patient

While blunt abdominal trauma with associated liver injury is a common finding in pediatric trauma patients, hepatic artery transection with subsequent treatment by transarterial embolization has rarely been reported. We present a case of a child who suffered from a hepatic artery injury which was successfully managed by supraselective transarterial microcoil embolization, discuss management strategies in these patients, and provide a review of currently available literature.

Vascular pediatric interventional radiology

Interventional radiology procedures are increasingly in demand in both the adult and pediatric populations. Pediatric procedures mirror many of the adult procedures but with increased complexity due to many considerations, notably patient size. This article reviews the various vascular pediatric interventional procedures. The aim is to provide a greater exposure to the possible treatment options for pediatric patients and to facilitate understanding of the success and complications rates related to various interventions.