Should grade of solid organ injury determine need for hospitalization in children?

Management of solid organ injuries (SOI) in children is often predicated on radiologic grade of injury. Hypothesizing that grade may not necessarily determine hospitalization need, we investigated factors associated with hospitalization in cases of isolated SOI in children.

Retrospective review of all cases admitted to one pediatric trauma centre over 10 yrs revealed 86 cases with SOI established by computed tomography (CT) scan upon admission. Review of all scans by one pediatric radiologist was performed to determine SOI grade. χ and Fisher's tests were used to determine associations with presenting clinical features and SOI grade with early outcomes.

Ninety-one cases of SOI were identified. Of these, 56 were isolated to solid organs, whereas the others were multisystem; 12 were grades I and II and 44 grades III to V. Variables associated with length of stay longer than 2 days were admission hematocrit (Hct) less than 33% (p = 0.006) and need for narcotics or anti-emetics upon admission (p = 0.002; p < 0.0001). Significant associations between these features and need for narcotics or anti-emetics the following day were also observed. No features predicted a significant drop in Hct over the first 24 hours or need for transfusion. Nineteen patients did not require narcotics, anti-emetics, or transfusions; 11 of these stayed in hospital for 2 days or shorter. The CT grade was not predictive of any short term outcomes.

Clinical status, low admission Hct, and need for medications may be better predictors of admission requirements of patients with isolated SOI than CT grade. Brief emergency department observation and discharge home may be appropriate for stable patients with isolated BAT without concerning clinical features, despite findings of SOI on imaging.

Therapeutic study, level V.