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Paediatric trauma teams in Australia.
Kenneth Wong1, Jeffrey Petchell
1Department of Trauma, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. kennethwo@yahoo.com
ANZ Journal of Surgery
|November 20, 2004
Summary
Most Australian paediatric hospitals use trauma teams with consistent activation criteria. However, paediatric surgeons have limited roles in these teams, impacting paediatric trauma care.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric Trauma Care
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgical Services
Background:
- Trauma teams are linked to better survival rates for critically injured children.
- Understanding the structure and function of paediatric trauma teams is crucial for optimizing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of trauma teams in Australian paediatric tertiary centres.
- To describe the medical composition, leadership, and activation protocols of these teams.
Main Methods:
- A national survey of Australian paediatric tertiary referral centres was conducted.
- Data on trauma team presence, composition, and activation were collected via questionnaires and follow-up phone calls.
Main Results:
- 75% of surveyed hospitals had established trauma teams, with uniform activation criteria.
- Teams comprised emergency, surgical, and intensive care registrars; paediatric surgeons were rarely involved in leadership or membership.
- After-hours staffing often relied on more junior members, with some centres lacking on-site surgical registrars.
Conclusions:
- Trauma teams are widely adopted in Australian paediatric tertiary centres, featuring standardized composition and activation.
- The limited involvement of paediatric surgeons in leadership and membership warrants attention for improving paediatric trauma management.