Intubation and survival in severe paediatric blunt head injury

The majority of severe childhood injuries are due to head injuries. We studied the impact of emergency intubation in a cohort of children suffering severe blunt head trauma. A 10-year retrospective case note analysis was performed on 176 children (age < 16 years) with severe blunt head trauma (abbreviated injury scale > or =4) in Southern Finland, who required intensive care in a level 1 trauma centre, or who died despite initiation of life supporting measures at the scene. Children in whom emergency intubation was performed either at the scene, or in the emergency room (ER) were analysed. Of the 59 children who fulfilled the study criteria, 20 had an isolated head injury. Most injuries (56/59) were caused by road traffic accidents. Field-intubation was performed in 24 children, and emergency intubation in the ERs of regional hospitals or the level 1 trauma centre, in 13 and 22 children respectively. Mortality was 54.2% (32/59), and was highest in children intubated in regional hospital ERs or in the field. Children intubated at the scene or in the ER of regional hospitals, had significantly worse AIS (head/neck), injury severity score (ISS), and Glasgow coma (GCS) scores than those children intubated in the ER of the level 1 trauma centre. Survival was better in field-intubated children compared with those intubated in regional hospital ERs, despite similar trauma scores (p = 0.05). It is concluded that although children with severe (AIS > or =4) head injury who require emergency intubation have a high overall mortality, field-intubation may improve survival, compared with 'scoop and run' with BLS airway management and deferred emergency intubation.