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Children in Sweden admitted to intensive care after trauma
Lena Franzén1, Per Ortenwall, Torsten Backteman
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. lena.franzen@vgregion.se
Insights
Severe pediatric trauma in Sweden is rare, primarily affecting boys due to traffic accidents and falls. Despite the severity, children treated in specialized pediatric intensive care units have a good survival rate.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric intensive care
- Trauma research
- Epidemiology of childhood injuries
Background:
- Pediatric trauma requiring intensive care is infrequent in Sweden.
- Understanding the characteristics of these severe injuries is crucial for improving outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the demographics, injury types, severity, and initial care of severely injured children admitted to a Swedish pediatric intensive care unit.
- To analyze patient outcomes and survival chances.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for 131 children (0-16 years) admitted between 1990 and 2000.
- Utilized nine standardized scoring systems to assess injury severity and predict survival.
Main Results:
- Traffic accidents (40%) and falls (34%) were the leading causes; head injuries were most common (24%).
- The median Injury Severity Score was 14, with a 3% mortality rate.
- Pediatric trauma predominantly affected boys (68%) with a mean age of 7.9 years.
Conclusions:
- Severely injured children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit in Sweden have a favorable prognosis.
- Access to specialized facilities and trained personnel significantly contributes to good survival rates.
Objective:
The aims of this study were to describe the demographics, injuries, mechanisms and severity of injury, prehospital and hospital care during the first 24h, and patient outcome, in the most severely injured children cared for following trauma at a paediatric intensive care unit in Sweden.
Methods:
The medical records of 131 traumatised children (0-16 years of age), admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit in Gothenburg from January 1990 to October 2000, were retrospectively examined. Nine internationally recognised scoring systems were used to calculate severity of injury, in order to predict the chances of patient survival.
Results:
Paediatric trauma was more common in boys (68%). The mean age at injury was 7.9 years (S.D. 4.7 years). Traffic-related accidents (40%) and falls (34%) were the leading causes of injury. Injuries to the head were the most frequent, forming 24% of all injuries. Severity of injury was recorded as an Injury Severity Score median of 14, Trauma Score Injury Severity Score median of 99% and Paediatric Risk of Mortality Score median of 0.69%. The mortality rate was 3%.
Conclusion:
Trauma with admission to a paediatric intensive care unit is rare in a Swedish paediatric population. When cared for at a centre with the necessary facilities and trained personnel, these children have a good chance of survival.
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