Emergent pediatric thoracotomy following traumatic arrest

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Endotracheal Intubation via Tracheotomy and Subsequent Thoracotomy in Rats for Non-Survival Applications
04:43

Endotracheal Intubation via Tracheotomy and Subsequent Thoracotomy in Rats for Non-Survival Applications

Published on: March 15, 2024

Joshua S Easter1, Deborah T Vinton, Jason S Haukoos

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA. Joshua.Easter@dhha.org

Resuscitation
|June 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Emergent thoracotomy offers a chance of survival for children with traumatic cardiac arrest. Survival is most likely in pediatric cases involving penetrating chest trauma with initial signs of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Critical Care

Background:

  • Emergent thoracotomy is a life-saving intervention for adults with traumatic cardiac arrest.
  • Its efficacy in pediatric cases remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the survival rate of emergent resuscitative thoracotomy in children.
  • To identify factors associated with survival in pediatric trauma patients undergoing this procedure.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing emergent thoracotomy for traumatic cardiac arrest over 15 years.
  • Analysis of factors previously linked to adult survival.

Main Results:

  • 29 pediatric patients underwent emergent thoracotomy, with 3 (10%) surviving to discharge.
  • All survivors had penetrating cardiac trauma and signs of life upon emergency medical services arrival.
  • No survivors were recorded among the 13 patients with blunt trauma.

Conclusions:

  • Emergent thoracotomy can be life-saving in pediatric traumatic cardiac arrest.
  • Success appears highest in penetrating trauma cases with initial signs of life.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate survival factors in children.
Abstract

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